Nicolas Bentley 1907-1978

This is but a small fraction of the work of this prolific artist whose illustrations can still be found in profusion in secondhand and new bookshops. The obvious comparison is with Gluyas Williams, a similar sharp line style with black infIll. The comparison shows how special was Bentley's work in depicting characteristic gestures and stances of the age. I am grateful for them both. Perhaps it was Bentley who was a particularly influential part of the British influence on Smart Set illustration in America.

 

Bentley rarely had the opportunity to construct a sustained body of interpretative visual work, which makes his illustrated books so worthy of study. He does seem more comfortable in the one-off drawing, or several drawings on a similar theme. I have added colour because Bentley is so associated with black and white. The endpapers Bentley designed are so easily overlooked.

 

HOW TO BE AN ALIEN (with George Mikes 1957)

SILVANUS GOES TO SEA UNDATED C1950

THE THINSIES, 1944

CLERIHEWS FOR PUNCH, 1938

ALL FALL DOWN C1938

A FEATURE ON NICHOLAS BENTLEY April 1955

MUSTAPHA MONKEY BOARDS