WILLIAM HEATH ROBINSON (1872-1944)


THE RAJAH	AND LAID ALL LEVEL WITH THE GROUND	TO ONE I GAVE A HUNDRED FLORINS

GARGANTUA	RONDIBILIS	HE CAUSED TO BE HONOURABLY BURIED IN BLACK-SOILEE-VALLEY

YOUR SALARIE IS AT THE GIBET-FOOT	HO, HO, HO, HO, HOW GLAD I AM	SIR ANDREW. 'PRAY GOD, HE KEEP HIS OATH!' - ACT III, SCENE IV

THE PROLOGUE	Helena -'i'll follow thee and make a heaven of hell, to die upon the hand i love so well.'	TRULY, THE MOON SHINES WITH A GOOD GRACE

PETER QUINCE	PETER QUINCE	HANS ANDERSON'S FAIRY TALES

THE REAL SOLDIER	LITTLE TOM TUCKER SINGS FOR HIS SUPPER; WHAT SHALL HE EAT? WHITE BREAD AND BUTTER	CHRISTMAS THIEVES

THE CHIEF REVOLUTER	HE DASHED AFTER THE ELEPHANT	HAD TO PLAY WITH TOY SOLDIERS

AN ORDINARY GOLF-BAG BECOMES AN EXCEPTIONALLY IMPOSING FLOWER-POT	A HAND-MADE MIRROR WHICH ANY LADY WOULD BE PROUD TO PEER AT	THE EIGHTEENTH HOLE

SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT PONSONBY MANSIONS, GOLDER'S GREEN, SHOWING HOW SPORT IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT A BACK GARDEN	ENVY	THE ENEMY CAPTURE A BOILING FOWL BY A SKILFULLY EXECUTED PINCER MOVEMENT STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT

A TALE ABOUT MORTALS FROM ONE WHO KNOWS	THE HOME MADE CAR	THIS FOR THE MAPLE LEAF

TIPS FOR THE AMATEUR GARDENER - THE NEW CLOCK-WORK PEA TRAINER AND OTHER MECHANICAL DEVICES FOR LIGHTENING THE LABOUR OF THE AMATEUR	OSRAM VALVES	ALL TYRED OUT

THE BRAIN WAVE	EARLY EXERCISE IN STEERING	TESTING THE BATTERY

ADJUSTABLE DOUBLE ENTRANCE TO A CONVERTED HOUSE	THE WARNING MIRROR FOR LOUNGE USERS	HOLED OUT

A TRAINED EARLY BIRD COMPELLING A WORM TO TURN BEFORE IT CASTS	THE CONFETTI GUN	DOMESTIC ECONOMY

CAUTIOUS YOUTH SURREPTITIOUSLY SOUNDS LADY FRIEND BEFORE MAKING A MATRIMONIAL PROPOSAL	WHEN THE SHIRT DOES NOT COME HOME FROM THE WASH	AN UNFORTUNATE BACK-HANDER AT ST ANDREWS

KNOCKING THE GROUND FROM BENEATH HIS FEET THE TOO VIGOROUS GOLFER - NOW I HAVE JUST ABOUT CUT MYSELF OFF	SUMMER TROUBLES IN THE TROPICS - SNAKE CASTS ON THE SAHARA GOLF COURSE	ANOTHER ILLUSTRATED CROSSWORD PUZZLETTE ACROSS - 1. **** EXCLAMATION

SELLING IRISH SWEEPSTAKE TICKETS UNDER THE EYES OF THE LAW	THE LANGUAGE OF EGGS SOME NEW DESIGNS FOR EASTER EGGS TO FACILITATE THE EXCHANGE OF GRACEFUL SENTIMENTS AND AMOROUS MESSAGES	SOMETHING ON EACH WAY - A FISH TRAGEDY

THE HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS PRESENT	THE FIRST BLUSH; OR, THE DAWN OF THE SENSE OF PROPRIETY	A MERE MATTER OF FORM DISTRESSING MISTAKE OF THE COOK RECENTLY RELEASED FROM A MUNITION FACTORY

PROTECTION FOR STATUARY AND OTHER PROMINENT FEATURES IN LONDON SQUARES DURING AIR RAIDS	THE EARLY QUEUERS - MRS BROAD GUSSET TO MR B (AN INVETERATE FIRST NIGHTER) - IT'S NOT THAT I MIND WAITING UNTIL THE THEATRE'S READY, BUT SUPPOSE THEY CHANGE THEIR MINDS AND TURN IT INTO A TOWN HALL	IT'S AN ILL WIND, ETC

THE OTHER POINT OF VIEW MOTHER 'FLU GERM TO HER YOUNGEST - COME BACK AT ONCE, FLUELLYN, - CAN'T YOU SEE HE'S GOT IT ALREADY, - YOU'LL CATCH IT YOURSELF BEFORE YOU'VE DONE, AND GIVE IT TO THE REST OF THE FAMILY	LABOUR SAVING DEVICES - THE TOP WATCH-WINDER; AN AUTOMATIC CANDLE-EXTINGUISHING BED	THE NEW YEAR'S BEDROOM - SUITE DE LUXE

A BUSY TIME IN THE TESTING ROOMS OF AN UP-TO-DATE MOTOR FACTORY	HOW THE INVENTOR OF THE PETTICOAT FIRST RECEIVED THE INSPIRATION ON THE BANKS OF THE NILE	SENSIBLE MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF A HEAT WAVE INVADING OUR SHORES

NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION	STRANGE THINGS THAT DON'T OFTEN HAPPEN AT GOLF	COLD CHARITY - A KIND HEARTED PRUSSIAN OFFICER GIVING HIS CLOTHES TO A NEEDY BELGIAN PEASANT

ONE OF THE CLEVERLY CAMOUFLAGED ALL WAYS GUNS ON THE SIEGFRIED LINE	ENEMY ICE MORTARS FOR PREVENTING PURSUIT WHEN CROSSING FROZEN RIVERS	THE SIXTH COLUMN - THE SIXTH COLUMN FRUSTRATE A VAIN ATTEMPT BY THE FIFTH TO STARVE US OUT BY POISONING THE PIGEONS IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE

A CLEVER METHOD OF OVERCOMING DISPARITY OF HEIGHT IN THE KAISER'S NEW ARMY	THE KISS OF PEACE 1916-1917 - NOTHING DOING	MAKING SURE OF A HAPPY WARTIME CHRISTMAS - THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT SPRING GUN FOR SENDING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS TO THE ENEMY

NEW SEASIDE SPORTS	AN UNRECORDED ECLIPSE OF THE SUN - AN ASTRONOMICAL NOTE	AND OPENS 'IS AS IF 'E WAS GOIN' TO SHOW ME 'IS FINE SET OF TEETH

THE PEACEFUL CONVERSION OF A TORPEDO TO A FOOT-WARMER	A 'GROUSE AS USUAL' OUTRAGE BY A GERMAN OFFICER	SEMI-TANKS FOR NEGOTIATING ROCKY DEFILES IN LIBYA

QUAINT OLD SCOTTISH CUSTOMS - LUM CLEANING IN AULD REEKIE	DISGUISING SHELLS FOR SHIPMENT IN NEUTRAL BOTTLES	XMAS LEGENDS - THE FIRST ROAST TURKEY AN OLD LEGEND THAT ATTRIBUTED THE DISCOVERY OF ROAST TURKEY TO THE MONKS IN THE 13th CENTURY

PATRIOTIC OLD DEARS ENDEAVOURING TO MAKE LIFE AS SWEET AS POSSIBLE DURING THE SCARCITY OF SUGAR	MRS SNIFKIN DREAMILY AS SHE SMELLS BURNING - DEAR! DEAR! HE'S SMOKING THAT CHEAP TOBACCO AGAIN	HOW TO DO WITHOUT THE MANTLE SHELF IN A MODERN FLAT

BIRDS-NESTING IN THE ADIRONDACKS. THE BIRDS'NESTER'S REBUFF MRS EAGLE - SEND HIM TO COVENTRY MY DEARS WE'LL HAVE NO LIVING STATUARY HERE	MONTE CARLO REFORMED PLAYING SNAP FOR FILBERTS AT THE CASINO	THE NEW REAR WHEEL GEAR FOR TURNING THE CAR RIGHT ROUND IN ONE MOVEMENT

IN THE SCRAMBLING TRENCHES OF AN EGG ARSENAL - GREAT BRITISH INDUSTRIES - DULY PROTECTED	WHEN THE CHANNELS TUNNELLED THE FRIED FISH EPICURE IN THE BOAT - SAM ISAACS, SAM ISAACS, WHAT MAKES MY MIND REVERT TO THEE	HOW HAST THOU DONE, MY DEAREST DAPPLE?

THE SMELL OF SCORCHING	THIN WALLS	THE 'MODESTY' SEASIDE BUNGALOW

INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS IN CHROMIUM STEEL FURNITURE	THE DINNER GONG IN SERVICE FLATS	PETS' PLAY-GROUND TRYPLIT MANSIONS MAIDA VALE

THE INFLUENZA CHAIR	THE FRESH AIR PARLOUR MABLEDENE MANSIONS TOOTING VALE	A LITTLE MECHANICAL HELP IN RISING GRACEFULLY FROM A LOUNGE CHAIR

PETS' CORNERS - BOLDERSBURY MANSIONS S.W.	PLAN OF A FOUR ROOMED FLAT WARMED BY ONE STOVE	OUR SIXTH COLUMN FRUSTRATES A DASTARDLY ATTEMPT BY THE FIFTH TO TAMPER WITH A RAILWAY SIGNAL

PROVING TO THE COUNCIL THAT A CAR MAY BE BROUGHT TO A SUDDEN STANDSTILL ON A STEEP GRADIENT DRESSED WITH DUROID UNDER ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS, BECAUSE DUROID HOLDS LARGE CHIPS FIRMLY, MAKING A GOOD SURFACE FOR TYRES TO GRIP.	THE TEST FOR FREEDOM FROM BLEEDING AND PICKING UP	1935 MAYOR AND MAYORESS IN STATE ATTENDED BY THE SURVEYOR AND HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE OPENING THE NEW DUROID MACADAM ROAD. 1975 THE SAME COMMITTEE WATCHING VAIN ENDEAVOURS TO SCARIFY THE ROAD AT A LATER DATE.

DEMONSTRATING BEFORE THE HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE THE RESILIENCE OF DUROID.	A SHEEP SHEARER	TESTING CORN PLASTERS IN THE SALON OF A FASHIONABLE WEST END CHIROPODIST

A CLOUD DISPELLER DESIGNED BY THE FIRST LORD DISCOVERING A HEINKEL BOMBER HIDING IN A CLOUD	AN APPROPRIATE GUARD OF HONOUR AT THE WEDDING OF A DOMESTICATED COUPLE	ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE BACK GARDEN

THE PERFECT HUSBAND INVARIABLY PRESSES HIS OWN TROUSERS	THE NEW HONEYMOON CAR FITTED WITH A NEAT CONFETTI PLOUGH	A WEDDING IN SILHOUETTE

THE ALL-WAYS-AT-ONCE INCENDIARY EXTINGUISHER	A NEW INSTRUMENT FOR TAKING POLLY'S BLOOD PRESSURE	SINGING ABOUT HER DAILY TASKS

THE HEATH ROBINSON GOLF COURSE PACKED WITH PEEK FREAN'S BISCUITS	AN INTELLIGENT METHOD OF OVERCOMING A DIFFICULT PROBLEM	HOME PRACTICE FOR THE GOLFING NOVICE

MODERNITY IN BEDROOM FURNITURE	A LINCOLNSHIRE HANDICAP - AN ANNUAL SPORTING EVENT IN THE RUSTON-BUCYRUS CO'S YARDS	HATS, HANDBAGS, EVEN PERAMBULATOR-WHEELS ARE AMONG THE REINCARNATIONS IN WHICH OLD GRAMOPHONE RECORDS ARE LIKELY TO APPEAR. A SHAPELY CAKE-STAND CONSTRUCTED ALMOST ENTIRELY OF OLD FOX-TROTS AND CORNET SOLOS.

DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO SMUGGLE PARROTS INTO THIS COUNTRY AFTER THE PASSING OF THE PARROT ACT 1930	THE SUNK BATH TO AVOID EMBARRASSING SITUATIONS	L'ART MUTUEL

BAA, BAA, BLACK SHEEP, HAVE YOU ANY WOOL? YES, MARRY, HAVE I, THREE BAGS FULL	PUSSY-CAT, PUSSY-CAT, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I'VE BEEN UP TO LONDON TO LOOK AT THE QUEEN	THE ELFIN KING'S HOUSE KEEPER

OLD KING COLE	OLIVIA. 'BUT WE WILL DRAW THE CURTAIN AND SHOW YOU THE PICTURE' ACT I SCENE V	A NEW INSTRUMENT FOR TAKING POLLY'S BLOOD PRESSURE

TRIBOULET	THE CONVERSION OF AN OLD FASHIONED SCULLERY TO A BATHROOM	A GENTLE GAME OF RUGBY IN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS

ABOU HASSAN WAS IN THE MOST INEXPRESSIBLE AMAZEMENT	HAVING DISCOVERD AN AMBUSCADE OF SQUOB-CHITTERLINGS	HE HAD HIS EYES ALWAYS FIXED UPON ONE OF HER SLAVES

MAGNETIC AIDS TO SKATERS TO BE INSTALLED IN THE LONDON PARKS DURING THE SKATING SEASON	A NEAT DEALING GADGET FOR BRIDGE PARTIES IN MODERN FLATS	THE DAILY DUST COLLECTION

THERE WAS A SHIP OF RIO SAILED OUT INTO THE BLUE AND NINE AND NINETY MONKEYS WERE ALL HER JOVIAL CREW	THE SNOW QUEEN	THE NEW PRAM FOR TROUBLESOME CHILDREN

WILLIAM HEATH ROBINSON (1872-1944)

The 20th century’s essential illustrator… whose cartoons led to his reputation as the ‘Gadget King’

Heath Robinson is a household name, and a byword for a design or construction that is ‘ingeniously or ridiculously over-complicated’ (as defined by The New Oxford Dictionary of English, 1998, page 848). This aspect of his art was celebrated at Chris Beetles Gallery with the exhibition ‘Contraptions’, which launched a bumper cartoon collection published by Duckworth. Yet, he was also a highly distinctive and versatile illustrator, whose work could touch at one extreme the romantic watercolours of a Dulac or Rackham, at another the sinister grotesqueries of a Peake, and at yet another the eccentricities of an Emett. It is his versatility that this present selection of images sets out to explore.

William Heath Robinson was born on 31 May 1872 in Islington, North London, the third son of Thomas Robinson, chief staff artist of the Penny Illustrated Paper. In the hope of becoming a landscape painter, he studied at Islington School of Art and the Royal Academy Schools, but soon followed his brothers, Charles and Tom, into the more secure profession of illustration. He contributed to periodicals from 1896 and, in the following year, began to illustrate books. He established his position in 1902, marking his individuality with illustrations to his own book, The Adventures of Uncle Lubin, and ensuring his financial stability by making his first drawings for advertising. In this first phase, he worked almost exclusively in black and white, fully demonstrating his mastery of monochrome in the hundred plus drawings that he produced for The Works of Mr Francis Rabelais. This appeared in 1904, just as Grant Richards, his main patron and the book’s publisher, became bankrupt. (The lavishness of the two Rabelais volumes evidences Richards’ lack of business sense.) However, Robinson was able to work with other publishers, developing his use of colour in order to produce true gift books; these began with Twelfth Night (Hodder, 1908), and included his own story, Bill the Minder (Constable, 1912), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Constable, 1914).

Though Robinson competed with others in the field of the gift book, he remained the unparalleled practitioner of the comic image. He produced an increasing number of humorous drawings for magazines and, from the First World War, was acknowledged the most original illustrator of his time. To the general public, as represented by the popular press, he was known as the ‘Gadget King’, that is as the inventor of perversely logical contraptions that gently mocked the products of the industrial age and so endeared society to its own rapid rate of change. He exploited this persona, by appearing on radio and television, designing a house for the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition (1934), and parodying the self-help manual in a series of books which began with How to Live in a Flat (written with K R G Browne, 1936). His major set of literary illustrations in this later period further blurred the distinction between fiction and reality: Norman Hunter’s The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm (1933) concerned an amiable, eccentric inventor. The events of the Second World War, as experienced on both sides of the English Channel, enabled him to sustain his powers of invention even into his final work. He died in Highgate, North London on 13 September 1944.

The Chris Beetles Gallery has mounted a number of significant exhibitions of the work of William Heath Robinson:
1. ‘William Heath Robinson (1872-1944)’, Chris Beetles Gallery, March 1987 (with a fully illustrated catalogue)
2. ‘The Brothers Robinson’, Chris Beetles Gallery and the Royal Festival Hall, February 1992 (with a fully illustrated catalogue – detailed below in further reading)
3. ‘William Heath Robinson (1872-1944). 50th Anniversary Exhibition’, Chris Beetles Gallery, September 1994
4. ‘The Gadget King’, Manchester City Art Galleries, Manchester City Art Galleries, Heaton Hall, May-October 2000
5. ‘W Heath Robinson’, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Linbury Room, November 2003 (to complement Dulwich’s own exhibition of William Heath Robinson)
6. ‘Heath Robinson at Nunnington Hall’, National Trust, Nunnington Hall, North Yorkshire, July 2005
7.‘Contraptions. William Heath Robinson (1872-1944)’, Chris Beetles Gallery, June-August 2007 (to launch a cartoon collection published by Duckworth)

For further information, see: Geoffrey Beare, The Brothers Robinson, London: Chris Beetles Ltd, 1992; Geoffrey Beare, Heath Robinson Advertising, London: Bellew, 1992; Geoffrey Beare, The Illustrations of W Heath Robinson, London: Werner Shaw Ltd, 1983; Langston Day, The Life and Art of W Heath Robinson, London: Herbert Joseph, 1947; James Hamilton, William Heath Robinson, London: Pavilion Books Limited, 1992; John Lewis, Heath Robinson. Artist and Comic Genius, London: Constable, 1973

WILLIAM HEATH ROBINSON (1872-1944)

WILLIAM HEATH ROBINSON (1872-1944)

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