Matt Morgan (cartoonist)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Somerville Morgan 27 April 1839 London
- 2 June 1890 New York City
was an artist
known mainly for his cartoon
s in various publications.
. In 1859 Morgan worked in northern Italy covering the bloody Franco-Austrian War. (1) He also studied in Paris, Italy, and Spain, and was one of the first artists to penetrate into the interior of Africa, which he did in 1858 by way of French Algeria
. In 1859, he reported the Second Italian War of Independence
for the News. He was afterward joint editor and proprietor of the Tomahawk, a comic illustrated London paper, and its artist. By September 21, 1861, the London publication Fun
began its run, with Morgan on board as an artist.
The most notable of his cartoons were attacks on the royal family, the first that were ever made. He was associated with F. C. Burnand
, W. S. Gilbert
, and others, in the establishment of the London humor magazine Fun
; his first "big cut" came out on December 28, 1861. He continued to draw the main cartoon for Fun
until October 1864. (2)A volume of his cartoons in this paper has been published under the title American War Cartoons (London, 1874). He was principal scene painter to the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden
.
in 1870 under an engagement with Frank Leslie
, and, after working as caricaturist on Leslie's publications, acted as manager of several New York theatres. He went in 1880 to Cincinnati, Ohio
, where he was manager of the Strobridge Lithograph Company until 1885, and did much to improve the character of theatrical lithography
. He also founded the Matt Morgan Art Pottery Company there in 1883, and the Cincinnati Art Students' League.
He returned to New York City in 1887. Morgan contributed to the exhibitions of the American Watercolor Society
, and painted a series of large panoramic pictures, representing battles of the Civil War
, which were exhibited in Cincinnati in 1886 and elsewhere.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
- 2 June 1890 New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
was an artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
known mainly for his cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
s in various publications.
England
His father was an actor and music teacher; his mother, Mary Somerville, an actress and singer. The son studied scene painting and followed his profession at London's Princess's Theatre, but became artist and correspondent for the Illustrated London NewsIllustrated London News
The Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper; the first issue appeared on Saturday 14 May 1842. It was published weekly until 1971 and then increasingly less frequently until publication ceased in 2003.-History:...
. In 1859 Morgan worked in northern Italy covering the bloody Franco-Austrian War. (1) He also studied in Paris, Italy, and Spain, and was one of the first artists to penetrate into the interior of Africa, which he did in 1858 by way of French Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. In 1859, he reported the Second Italian War of Independence
Second Italian War of Independence
The Second War of Italian Independence, Franco-Austrian War, Austro-Sardinian War, or Austro-Piedmontese War , was fought by Napoleon III of France and the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia against the Austrian Empire in 1859...
for the News. He was afterward joint editor and proprietor of the Tomahawk, a comic illustrated London paper, and its artist. By September 21, 1861, the London publication Fun
Fun
Fun is the enjoyment of pleasure and, according to Johan Huizinga, "an absolutely primary category of life, familiar to everybody at a glance right down to the animal level." Fun may be encountered in many human activities during work, social functions, recreation and play, and even seemingly...
began its run, with Morgan on board as an artist.
The most notable of his cartoons were attacks on the royal family, the first that were ever made. He was associated with F. C. Burnand
Francis Burnand
Sir Francis Cowley Burnand , often credited as F. C. Burnand, was an English comic writer and dramatist....
, W. S. Gilbert
W. S. Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his fourteen comic operas produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, of which the most famous include H.M.S...
, and others, in the establishment of the London humor magazine Fun
Fun (magazine)
Fun was a Victorian weekly magazine, first published on 21 September 1861. The magazine was founded by the actor and playwright H. J. Byron in competition with Punch magazine.-Description:...
; his first "big cut" came out on December 28, 1861. He continued to draw the main cartoon for Fun
Fun
Fun is the enjoyment of pleasure and, according to Johan Huizinga, "an absolutely primary category of life, familiar to everybody at a glance right down to the animal level." Fun may be encountered in many human activities during work, social functions, recreation and play, and even seemingly...
until October 1864. (2)A volume of his cartoons in this paper has been published under the title American War Cartoons (London, 1874). He was principal scene painter to the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
.
United States
He came to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1870 under an engagement with Frank Leslie
Frank Leslie
Frank Leslie was an English-born American engraver, illustrator, and publisher of family periodicals.-English origins:...
, and, after working as caricaturist on Leslie's publications, acted as manager of several New York theatres. He went in 1880 to Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, where he was manager of the Strobridge Lithograph Company until 1885, and did much to improve the character of theatrical lithography
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
. He also founded the Matt Morgan Art Pottery Company there in 1883, and the Cincinnati Art Students' League.
He returned to New York City in 1887. Morgan contributed to the exhibitions of the American Watercolor Society
American Watercolor Society
The American Watercolor Society is a nonprofit membership organization devoted to the advancement of watercolor painting in the United States. It was founded in 1866 by eleven painters and, originally, was known as the American Society of Painters in Water Colors...
, and painted a series of large panoramic pictures, representing battles of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, which were exhibited in Cincinnati in 1886 and elsewhere.