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Celebrating Fireworks Night, with some classic comic art

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It’s Bonfire Night in the UK tonight – which is a great opportunity to highlight some great Guy Fawkes-related art on sale from The Book Palace Illustration Art Gallery.

On the 5th November, fireworks light up the sky in celebration of a failed coup… Guy Fawkes was planning on detonating barrels of gunpowder under the British Parliament but his band of collaborators were caught, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Book Palace have picked out a few artist’s impressions to get you in the mood for this evening’s festivities…

Many of the original artworks in the Illustration Art Gallery were created for Front Covers or internal book or comic illustrations, such as a tremendous painting of Guy Fawkes by Septimus Scott, intended for the cover of Thriller Picture Library No. 49, published in 1953. Publisher Amalgamated Press went instead for another version by Scott, tightening the focus on the traitor, which makes the final cover more dramatic.

One of two atmospheric original paintings created by Septimus Scott for the cover of Thriller Picture Library No. 49, telling the story of Guy Fawkes. The publisher went with a different cover, also by Scott.
The published cover of Thriller Picture Library No. 49, telling the story of Guy Fawkes, art by Septimus Scott
Septimus Scott created two covers for Thriller Picture Library 49, telling the story of  Guy Fawkes, published in 1953; the publisher went with a tighter version. Scott exhibited at the Royal Academy and was a member of the Royal Watercolour Society and the quality really shows here

Plus, Book Palace have this original Guy Fawkes-inspired cartoon by Franklin (Stanley Arthur Franklin) on offer, published in November 1977 – commenting on the only time in it’s history that the Fire Brigade had gone on national strike, including the period of Bonfire Night.

There are plenty of other Thriller Picture Library covers on offer right now, including “The Picture of Dorian Gray“, also by Scott (for #148) a stunning “Battler Britton” cover by Giorgio De Gaspari (#297), and “DogFight Dixon and the Savage Sky” (#354) by the amazing Pino Dell’Orco.

Original Pen & Ink Wash cartoon by Stanley Arthur Franklin published in November 1977. Although it echoes more recent concerns, 1977 was the only time in it's history that the Fire Brigade had gone on national strike including the period of Bonfire Night.
Original Pen & Ink Wash cartoon by Stanley Arthur Franklin published in November 1977. Although it echoes more recent concerns, 1977 was the only time in it’s history that the Fire Brigade had gone on national strike, including the period of Bonfire Night

First employed as cartoonist with the Daily Herald in 1954, Franklin moved on to the Daily Mirror in 1959, succeeding ‘Vicky’ (Victor Weisz). He stayed at the Mirror until 1970, moved to The Sun in 1974, and worked with that paper until 1998. His work included many cartoons of leading politicians and aristocracy, including several prime ministers, and Prince Philip who collected Franklin’s sketches of the Royal Family.

For the younger firework fan, there are some charming items on offer, too…

Gordon Hutchings’ lovely paintings focus on anthropomorphic characters including ‘Num Num’ and Gulliver Guinea Pig. These characters often starred in the comic Playhour.

"Num Num and His Funny Family" was written by Barbara Hayes and drawn by Gordon Hutchings who is well known for the much-loved character Gulliver Guinea-Pig. The stories appeared in the short-lived children's pre-school title TV Toyland, which was published between 1966 and 1967, before being merged with the more well known Playhour. This picture of pyromaniac fun was published in issue 24, cover dated 5th November 1966
“Num Num and His Funny Family” was written by Barbara Hayes and drawn by Gordon Hutchings who is well known for the much-loved character Gulliver Guinea-Pig. The stories appeared in the short-lived children’s pre-school title TV Toyland, which was published between 1966 and 1967, before being merged with the more well known Playhour. This picture of pyromaniac fun was published in issue 24, cover dated 5th November 1966

This art featuring Brer Rabbit, painted by Henry Fox, is a charming original watercolour, one of a series, based on Joel Chandler Harris’s Uncle Remus Stories featuring Brer Rabbit. Here, the friends have built a bonfire and are scaring Mr. Fox!

Brer Fox finds himself in a hot spot on Bonfire Night. From a series of short tales based on the Uncle Remus stories that appeared in the children's magazine, Once Upon A Time. This is from issue 143, art by Henry Fox
Brer Fox finds himself in a hot spot on Bonfire Night. From a series of short tales based on the Uncle Remus stories that appeared in the children’s magazine, Once Upon A Time. This is from issue 143, art by Henry Fox

Both Henry Fox and Virginio Liveraghi painted Brer Rabbit stories – have a look at their beautiful narrative painterly styles.

Philip Mendoza’s charming Town and Country Mouse paintings are a joy to behold. Some of these are painted on large boards, which really light up a kid’s room. Mendoza illustrated children’s classics including The Water Babies, Alice in Wonderland and The Wind in The Willows.

A delightful painting from the "Town and Country Mouse" short stories written by Barbara Hayes and illustrated by Philip Mendoza for the children's pre-school magazine, Once Upon A Time. This illustration featured in Issue 143, published in 1971.
A delightful painting from the “Town and Country Mouse” short stories written by Barbara Hayes and illustrated by Philip Mendoza for the children’s pre-school magazine, Once Upon A Time. This illustration featured in Issue 143, published in 1971

• Head to The Book Palace Illustration Art Gallery for much, much more artwork!

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Categories: Art and Illustration, British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes News, Other Worlds

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