Four original literary-historical illustrations for The New York Times Book Review

New York: New York Times, 1926. Four large original watercolors by George Van Werveke for the New York Times Book Review, published in 1925 and 1926. Headlining the fiction section, Van Werveke's historical scenes provided a counterpoint to the modern American titles reviewed below, offering amusing glimpses of English and French literary history. Each illustration catches a writer at a charged or revealing personal moment. The first, published on May 31, 1925, depicts the seventeenth-century diarist John Evelyn amid the chaos of his trashed house, as he consults with the architect Christopher Wren. The published headline read: "Lusty Monarch Ruins Fair Home of Famous Diarist. After John Evelyn Had Sublet to Peter the Great (During Peter's Visit to England), He Had to Call in Sir Christopher Wren to Repair the Damage." The second, published on January 24, 1926, shows the historian George Grote examining his future wife on the reading he assigned her, while her father stews. The published headline read: "Eminent Historian Puts His Courtship to Good Use. Grote Used to Set his Fiancée Themes on Various Subjects and Gave Her Books to Read, on Which He Required a Digest. (Her Father Opposed the Match.)" The third, published on November 14, 1926, depicts two indignant housemaids confronting the walls of John Milton's former London house, newly covered in scribbled notes by the essayist William Hazlitt. The published headline read: "The Walls Were Hazlitt's Notebook. When the Essayist was Living in Milton's Old House He Used the Whitewashed Walls for Jotting Down His Thoughts." The fourth, published on November 21, 1926, shows the prolific French dramatist Eugène Scribe at his desk, surrounded by jostling freelance contributors and consultants. The published headline read: "Origin of the Broadway Review. The Fertility of Augustin Eugène Scribe was Unceasing. Its Results Prodigious. He Had Systematic Methods of Collaboration - One Co-worker Supplied the Plot. Another the Dialogue. Still Another the Jokes." In addition to the book section, Van Werveke was a regular contributor to the popular New York Times society column by Helen Bullitt Lowry, capturing Prohibition raids and flappers with the same deftness he applied to these literary-historical scenes. A skillful and striking group of illustrations. Four oblong illustrations, measuring between 7.75 and 8.5 inches high x 22.25 inches wide. Watercolor, ink, and wash, with graphite tracing on artist's paper. Signed in ink at upper corners; captioned at lower left; publication stamps, measurements, and printing notes in margins. Preliminary sketches on verso of Evelyn and Grote illustrations. Scattered soiling, mostly to margins; pinholes in corners.