John Tenniel was an English draftsman, book illustrator, humorist and political cartoonist. He was born in London and had five siblings. His father was a fencing and dancing instructor. When Tenniel was twenty years old, a tragic event occurred: he was practicing his fencing skills with his father when he suffered a serious injury to his right eye from the latter's foil, from the tip of which the protective cover had fallen off unnoticed. Over the next few years, Tenniel gradually lost all sight in this eye. He hid the severity of his injury from his father so as not to burden him further. About two years after this accident, Tenniel was admitted to the Royal Academy of Arts, but the teaching methods there did not suit him in the long term, so he mainly continued his education autodidactically. For this purpose, he often drew the ancient statues in the London museums as well as costumed actors in theaters and various animals in the zoo. These exercises helped him to develop his attention to detail. He also had a photographic memory and often drew purely from memories.
Tenniel gained notoriety as a cartoonist for "Punch" magazine. With his satirical illustrations, he influenced the political and social reforms of the time. Although he drew thousands of political cartoons (including the famous work "Dropping the Pilot," which depicts Otto von Bismarck), Tenniel is probably best known today for his illustrations of Lewis Carroll's books "Alice in Wonderland" and "Alice Behind the Mirrors." Tenniel produced a total of 92 drawings for these classics of world literature. Originally, Lewis Carroll had tried to illustrate his books himself, but he soon reached the limits of his artistic abilities. Since Carroll was an avid reader of "Punch" magazine, he was well acquainted with Tenniel's work. Before Tenniel produced the first drawings in 1865, the two men had long conversations. The illustrated issues became bestsellers and increased Tenniel's fame considerably. Nevertheless, he largely gave up illustrating books again after this particular project.
A particularly high honor was bestowed upon Tenniel at the age of 73: Queen Victoria knighted him for his special services. It was the first time this honorary title had been bestowed on an illustrator or cartoonist. Tenniel's knighthood improved the social status of black-and-white illustrators and brought new recognition to this rather lowly professional group. When Tenniel retired, he was honored with a formal banquet. On this occasion, Lord Balfour, later Prime Minister, described him as "a great artist and a great gentleman." Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, he died at the ripe old age of 93.
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.jpg "The White Rabbit with trumpet and scroll heralding the accusation, from")
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.jpg "Alice traversing the mirror - in “Alice")
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.jpg "Dropping the Pilot, Punch 29 March 1890 by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The Mad Hatter")
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 first published 1871 - (MeisterDrucke-59239).jpg "The Borogoves, Toves and the Raths, illustration from")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-138253).jpg "Alice Meets the Caterpillar, Illustration from")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-127951).jpg "The Playing Cards Painting the Rose Bush, illustration from “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll (1832-9) by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The Mad Hatter in Court, 1889 by John Tenniel")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-642480).jpg "Alice discovers a bottle marked “Drink Me” by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice in the Looking-Glass Room, illustration from")
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.jpg "Alice Traversing the Mirror - In “Alice")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-134924).jpg "“The Queen has come! And isn")
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.jpg "The Mad Hatter and the March Hare putting the Dormouse in the Teapot, illustration from “Alice")
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.jpg "Alice with flamingo chats with the Duchess, from")
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 first published 1865 - (MeisterDrucke-41501).jpg "Alice and the White Knight, illustration from")
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.jpg "Alice with the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle, from")
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.jpg "The King of Hearts Arguing with the Executioner, from")
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.jpg "Sketch for a Large Picture in Progress, Representing Allegorically the Great Industrial Meeting of all Nations, A.D. 1851 by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The Mock Turtle, Alice and The Gryphon by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visiting soldiers wounded in the Crimean War, at Brompton Hospital, Chatham, 1855 by John Tenniel")
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 first published 1871 - (MeisterDrucke-99352).jpg "Alice and the Red Queen, illustration from")
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.jpg "Alice peering at the")
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.jpg "Political satire depicting William Ewart Gladstone, Benjamin Disraeli and John Bull by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice Swimming with a Mouse in the Pool of Tears, from")
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.jpg "The Trial of the Knave of Hearts, from Alice")
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.jpg "Germany stealing Britain")
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.jpg "Illustration for the chapter A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale. Alice and various creatures, such as by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The Cheshire cat by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Charity sweeping aside Mr Brumble")
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.jpg "The Assault: Gladstone")
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.jpg "The Mad Hatter, illustration from")
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.jpg "Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871: Shades of Louis XIV and Napoleon I lamenting the fading of France")
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.jpg "John Tenniel cartoon on the French machinations over the building of the Panama Canal. From Punch, London, 7 January 1893. by John Tenniel")
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_Italian_Patriot_conquering_S_-_(MeisterDrucke-1040441).jpg "Unification of Italy: Giuseppe Garibaldi Conquering Sicily and Naples on Behalf of the New Kingdom of Italy. John Tenniel Cartoon from Punch by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The Jabberwocky by John Tenniel")
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_English-born_South_African_statesman_asking_the_Ge_-_(MeisterDrucke-1041273).jpg "Cecil John Rhodes Asking the German Emperor for Permission to Run a Telegraph Line Through German East Africa by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "A cartoon commenting on the suspension of grouse shooting to allow the stock to rebuild. Illustrated by John Tenniel (1820-1914), an English illustrator, graphic humourist, and political cartoonist by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The walrus and the carpenter with oysters by John Tenniel")
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_shown_as_-_(MeisterDrucke-1036238).jpg "Irish National League, with face of Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891), shown as a vampire preying on Ireland. John Tenniel cartoon from Punch, London, 24 October 1885. by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Humpty Dumpty, from Alice")
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.jpg "Alice Meets the Dodo, Illustration from")
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.jpg "Alice and Humpty Dumpty, Cover Illustration for")
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.jpg "But Wait a Bit, illustration from")
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_Irish_pol_-_(MeisterDrucke-1041726).jpg "Mr Punch tells John Bull to ignore Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891), Irish politician, as he is sure to come a cropper riding the Irish horse. John Tenniel cartoon from Punch, London, 5 September 1885. Engraving by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice Grows Too Tall for the Room by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice and the Cheshire Cat by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Playing cards - in")
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 first published 1871 - (MeisterDrucke-107126).jpg "The Chess Players, illustration from")
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.jpg "Alice looking at the bottle with the sign drink me, 1889 by John Tenniel")
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_who_when_the_Home_Secret_-_(MeisterDrucke-961912).jpg "A Cartoon Depicting William Vernon Harcourt, Illustrated by John Tenniel by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice looking at a small door behind a curtain, 1889 by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice Grows Too Tall for the Room, from Alice")
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.jpg "The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, came whiffling through the Tulgey Wood, Alice")
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.jpg "Off with Her Head, from Alice")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-131885).jpg "The Mock Turtle and the Gryphon, Illustration from")
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_in_Punch_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078598).jpg "Illustration of John Tenniel in Punch by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The Mock Turtle, The Gryphon and Alice by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice and the Pack of Cards, from")
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.jpg "Third of the Father William Series, 1889 by John Tenniel")
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_Bull_by_the_Horns_Bill_passed_by_Parliament_on_15_February_18_-_(MeisterDrucke-1042228).jpg "Taking the (Irish) Bull by the Horns: Bill passed by Parliament on 15 February 1870 and received royal assent on 8 July. William Gladstone, Prime Minister, dealing with the issue. John Tenniel cartoon from Punch, London, 26 February 1870. by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Benjamin Disraeli, British Conservative, Cartoon from Punch, 1864 by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Scene from Alice")
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.jpg "The White Rabbit is late, from")
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.jpg "Fiat Justitia! The British Lion and the Afghan Wolves, cartoon from")
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.jpg "The Mock Turtle, Alice and The Gryphon, 1889 by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Sliding on Thin Ice by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The Cheshire Cat Begins to Fade Away, Its Smile the Last to Go by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The Trial of the Knave of Hearts, from Alice")
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 first published 1871 - (MeisterDrucke-44544).jpg "Manners and Lessons, illustration from")
 first published 1871 - (MeisterDrucke-44544).jpg)
_in_Punch_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078026).jpg "Illustration of John Tenniel in Punch by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Off with her head! Alice and the Red Queen, 1889 by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Illustrated by John Tenniel by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice and the White Rabbit. Illustration by John Tenniel from the first edition of Lewis Carroll")
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.jpg "The Dodo by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Britannia holding back Cholera at British ports. In the outbreak of 1892 about 260,000 died in Russia and 7,600 in Hamburg. The epidemic was prevented in Britain. John Tenniel cartoon from Punch London 10 September 1892. by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Cartoon commenting on the pleas for a block system signal to be made compulsory on British Railways by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice Holding a Pig in Her Arms, 1889 by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice and the caterpillar, 1889 by John Tenniel")
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 (detail of 264483) - (MeisterDrucke-112366).jpg "Alice and the Cheshire Cat, illustration from")
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.jpg "The Playing Cards Painting the Rose Bushes by John Tenniel")
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_with_-_(MeisterDrucke-1036241).jpg "Two Forces: Irish Land League outlawed by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice facing the Red Queen by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Unknown Image by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll, Illustrated by John Tenniel by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The Mad Hatter, in the chapter The Tarts by John Tenniel")
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 first published 1871 - (MeisterDrucke-102688).jpg "Alice and the Red Queen, illustration from")
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.jpg "Alice in the Looking Glass House, illustration from")
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_trying_to_persuade_Pope_Pius_-_(MeisterDrucke-1036239).jpg "Unification of Italy: Giuseppe Garibaldi trying to persuade Pope Pius IX by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice Peering at the Drink Me Bottle, from Alice")
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.jpg "Alice and the Cheshire Cat by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice and the Dodo by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "The youth and the sage. The sage doing a somersault by John Tenniel")
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.jpg "Alice Grows Taller, from")
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.jpg "Father William balancing an eel on his nose, from")
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