DARLEY
American illustrator (1821-1888)
Biography:
Felix Octavius Carr Darley was the best-known American illustrator of the 19th century. He illustrated the works of very important writers, such as Charles Dickens, Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry W Longfellow, James Fenimore Cooper, Nathaniel Hawthorne and many others.
His talent lies in the fact that he managed to bring life to every scene he painted, be it using line drawings, pencil, oil or ink wash.
He helped popularize such icons of American national identity as the Pilpgrim, the Pioneer, the Minuteman and the Yankee Peddler.
Works illustrated by FOC Darley:
The first books that he illustrated were Washington Irving's Sketch Book and Rip Van Winkle. Later on he also illustrated Irving's major works, such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Alhambra tales or Life of George Washington.
In 1856, Darley received a commission to illustrate James Fenimore Cooper's complete works, involving 64 steel engravings and 120 wood engravings.
He died in 1888, when he was working on drawing for Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop.