Sol Eytinge Jr. facts for kids
Solomon Eytinge Jr. (born October 23, 1833 – died March 26, 1905) was a talented American artist. He drew pictures for newspapers, magazines, and many famous books. Some of the authors he illustrated include Charles Dickens and Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Early Life of Sol Eytinge Jr.
Solomon Eytinge Jr. was born in New York City on October 23, 1833. His father, also named Solomon Eytinge, was a merchant from the Netherlands. His mother, Mary Ann Miller, was American.
Eytinge's Career as an Illustrator
By the time he was 23, Sol Eytinge Jr. was already a well-known artist. He worked for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. There, he even helped a young artist named Thomas Nast, who was only 16 at the time. Later, Eytinge worked for other newspapers and magazines like the New York Illustrated News, Every Saturday, and Harper's Weekly. He worked alongside other artists like Frank Bellew and the brothers Alfred and William Waud.
Eytinge was also part of a group of creative friends in New York City. They called themselves the Ornithorhynchus Club. One of his friends, the writer William Winter, said that Eytinge was a very interesting person and a great artist. He said Eytinge had a wonderful imagination and could draw pictures that were funny or sad.
In 1867, a publishing company asked Sol Eytinge to draw pictures for the books of the famous British author, Charles Dickens. Dickens was planning a tour in America. These drawings were published in a special series of books called the Diamond Edition. Charles Dickens really liked Eytinge's drawings and approved them. The two men got along well, and Eytinge even drew a portrait of Dickens.
One of Eytinge's most famous drawings was for Dickens's book, A Christmas Carol. It showed Bob Cratchit carrying Tiny Tim on his shoulder. This was the first time this famous scene was ever drawn and published! Eytinge even visited Dickens in England.
Sol Eytinge was a very busy artist. He drew pictures for books by many other well-known authors. These included Louisa May Alcott, Robert Browning, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell, Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, and John Greenleaf Whittier.
Eytinge's Family Life
In 1858, Sol Eytinge married Margaret (Winship) Wyckoff. She was also a writer and used different pen names like Margaret Winship Eytinge and Allie Vernon. Margaret had two children from a previous marriage. One of her daughters, Pearl, later became an actress and took the name Pearl Eytinge.
Many of Eytinge's family members were involved in theater. His cousins, Samuel D. Eytinge and Rose Eytinge, were connected to the stage. His brother, Charles D. Eytinge, was a famous "reader" (someone who performs readings of stories). Another brother, Harry, was a producer and actor. His nephew, Dennis Miller Bunker, became a well-known impressionist painter.
Sol Eytinge Jr. passed away in Bayonne, New Jersey, on March 26, 1905. He is buried in the Bayview-New York Bay Cemetery.
