Lancelot Speed facts for kids
Lancelot Speed (born June 13, 1860 – died December 31, 1931) was a British artist. He was known for painting scenes of the coast. He also illustrated many books during the Victorian era. These books often had fantasy or romantic stories. Speed is most famous for his drawings in Andrew Lang's fairy tale books. He also worked as a designer for a silent movie in 1916. This movie was based on the novel She by H. Rider Haggard, which Speed had illustrated.
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Early Life and Education
Lancelot Speed was born in London on June 13, 1860. He was the youngest son of William Speed, a well-known lawyer. Lancelot went to Rugby School when he was younger. Later, he attended Clare College, Cambridge in 1881. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cambridge in 1885.
Artistic Work and Illustrations
Lancelot Speed did not go to a formal art school. However, he became a successful illustrator. He mostly created drawings in black and white. New printing methods helped his detailed artwork look great in books. He was one of the first illustrators to benefit from this new technology. Later in his life, he lived and worked in Southend-on-Sea.
Directing Early Films
Lancelot Speed also directed several early British silent films. These were movies made without sound. He was involved in a series of films called The Wonderful Adventures of Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
Here are some of the films he directed in that series:
- The Wonderful Adventures Of Pip, Squeak And Wilfred
- Pip And Wilfred Detectives
- Wilfred's Wonderful Adventures
- Over The Edge Of The World
- Popski's Early Life
- The Castaways
- The Six-Armed Image
- Trouble In The Nursery
- Ups And Downs
- Wilfred's Nightmare
The "Popski" Nickname Origin
Lancelot Speed's cartoon work led to a famous nickname during World War II. A special forces unit commander, Vladimir Peniakoff, was called "Popski." This nickname came from a character in the Pip, Squeak and Wilfred cartoons.
In these cartoons, which appeared in the Daily Mirror newspaper, there was a character called "Professor Wtzkoffski." His dog was named "Popski." Many soldiers knew these cartoon characters. Vladimir Peniakoff's signallers found his real name hard to spell. So, they started calling him "Popski." Peniakoff himself later wrote that he was "delighted" with his new nickname.
Later Life and Death
Lancelot Speed passed away in Deal, Kent, on December 31, 1931. He was buried in Knowlton, Kent.
