William Black (1841-1898)
Spy (Sir Leslie Ward)
21 February 1891
Chromolithograph
14 1/8 in. x 9 1/2 in. (359 mm x 242 mm) paper size
Vanity Fair
Source: © National Portrait Gallery, London
NPG D44530
"Men of the Day. No. 499."
In recent decades, the novelist had become very popular and was critically acclaimed in America as well as in England. He was particularly known for his descriptions of his Scottish settings, and is shown here in angler's garb, rod in one hand, book in the other. Fishing was a sport to which "he devoted a considerable portion of his time" (Wemyss 120).
Image downloaded, and caption material added, with thanks to the gallery, by Jacqueline Banerjee [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
