Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Blog Post No. 4700: Peter Arno's Rebecca and the Wounded Ivanhoe

In finding herself once more by the side of Ivanhoe, Rebecca was astonished at the keen sensation of pleasure which she experienced, even at a time when all around them both was danger, if not despair.
Ivanhoe
—Sir Walter Scott
 


Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe was published in December of 1819. In Chapter 29, Rebecca, the Jewish daughter of Isaac of York, tends to the wounded Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe after his injury in a tournament. Through the castle room's window she sees a violent battle raging just outside as the castle is stormed and, aghast, she relates what she sees to the bedridden knight.


But cartoonist Peter Arno's illustration of the scene is a lighthearted take on the adventure, with a smiling Ivanhoe appearing to be well on his way to recovery thanks to the gentle ministrations of Rebecca. Whatever fierce battle may be raging about the castle walls, there is no indication of it in this serene rendering.

Ivanhoe
Peter Arno
Original art
The American Magazine, February 1940, p. 80

According to a fraying label on the back, the drawing was published in a February issue of The American Magazine. The original art came recently to eBay from the estate of American painter Harry Shoulberg (1903-1995).




Ivanhoe
Peter Arno
Original art
The American Magazine, February 1940, p. 80


Arno's illustration is related in style and subject matter to his depiction of Cyrano de Bergerac, which came to light at auction late last year. The levity of the piece may very well link it to a humorous series of one-page condensed classics written by Munro Leaf (of Ferdinand the Bull renown) that were illustrated by Arno. These include Robinson Crusoe, the only full example we've seen in these pages. There are also four atypical Arno drawings in his 1944 collection Man in the Shower, illustrations of literary classics that just might be part of this selfsame series. This is all a conjecture at this point but, I hope, not an unreasonable one.



Peter Arno's signature

Ivanhoe
Peter Arno
Original art
The American Magazine, February 1940, p. 80


Ivanhoe
Peter Arno
Original art
The American Magazine, February 1940, p. 80

Peter Arno's signature




Peter Arno
eBay listing ended May 18, 2024

Peter Arno
eBay item description







After a lowball best offer of $250 was refused, the seller's less lowball counteroffer of $400 was accepted.


Eugène Delacroix handled the same subject back in 1823, just four years after the novel's publication. Today his painting is hanging at the Met. Like most artists who depict the scene, Delacroix focuses on Rebecca describing the battle to Ivanhoe, just as Scott did.



August 5, 2024 Update:  I have added the publication history in The American Magazine for February 1940 to the images of the original art. Here's the published page:
Ivanhoe, February 1940
Scan courtesy of Jeff Nelson



Note:  Anyone with access to printed magazine illustrations of major literary works by Peter Arno, or original art of the same ilk, please get in touch.


The Attempted Bloggery Centennial Posts 💯
Blog Post No. 100
Blog Post No. 200:  A Shaggy Dog Story



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