Alfred Bryan (1852–17 May 1899) (born as Charles Grineau)[1] was a popular English illustrator, best known for his many contributions to the London-based weekly theatrical review Entr'acte.
He was born as Charles Grineau in Marylebone in London in 1852,[2] the eldest of five children of Elizabeth née Newman (1840-1804) and William Henry Grineau (1829-1902), a baker. Bryan's first professional sketches were published in The Hornsey Hornet. He also produced sketches for The London Figaro.[3] Bryan worked for the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News for most of his career and was also published in periodicals such as Judy magazine. Walter Sickert, a contemporary art critic, described him as "the complete, trained draughtsman", praising his illustrations as "[...]unfaltering in their mastery of line, their perfect style, their elegance and wit."[4]
Bryan died in May 1899 and was buried in New Southgate Cemetery, in Barnet, North London. He left an estate valued at £2,309 9s 9d.[5]
His son was Charles William Grineau (1883–1957), an artist known for his paintings of motorcars under the pseudonyms Bryan de Grineau and John Bryan.[1]
Gallery
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Carl Rosa from the 1888 Entr'acte Annual -
Charles Dickens from the 1893 Entr'acte Annual -
Caricature of comedian Dan Leno as a Christmas pantomime dame from 1890s -
Bobby Abel, to W. G.:-"Look here, we players intend to be sufficiently paid, as well as the so-called gentlemen!", 1884 Entr'acte Annual -
Oscar Wilde by Alfred Bryan -
The ventriloquist Frank Travis from the 1889 Entr'acte
- ^ a b "De Grineau Bryan (JOHN BRYAN)". Motoring Art Information. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ Charles Grineau in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
- ^ Forbes, Frank 'A Chat with Alfred Bryan The Temple Magazine (1898)
- ^ Walter Sickert, The Complete Writings on Art, Oxford, 2003
- ^ Charles Grineau in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
References
editExternal links
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Media related to Alfred Bryan (illustrator) at Wikimedia Commons
- Bryan on the National Portrait Gallery website