Edward Ardizzone

Edward Jeffrey Irving Ardizzone, (16 October 1900 – 8 November 1979), who sometimes signed his work "DIZ", was a British painter, printmaker and war artist, and the author and illustrator of books, many of them for children. For Tim All Alone (Oxford, 1956), which he wrote and illustrated, Ardizzone won the inaugural Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association for the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. For the 50th anniversary of the Medal in 2005, the book was named one of the top ten winning titles, selected by a panel to compose the ballot for public election of an all-time favourite.

Early life

Ardizzone's father, Auguste Ardizzone, was a naturalised Frenchman of Italian descent, who was born a Pied-Noir in French Algeria, then a colony of France, and worked on overseas government service elsewhere in the French colonial empire. Ardizzone's mother, Margaret, was English. Her father, Edward Alexander Irving, was assistant colonial secretary of the Straits Settlements, in what is now known as Singapore, as well as the Malaysian states of Penang and Malacca. Edward Ardizzone was born in the port city of Haiphong, Tonkin, in the north of French Indo-China, a city now in Vietnam, while his father was working for the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company.

In 1905, Margaret Ardizzone returned to England with her three eldest children. They were brought up in Suffolk, largely by their maternal grandmother, while Margaret returned to join her husband in the Far East. The Ardizzone family lived in Corder Road, Ipswich, between 1905 and 1910, and then in Gainsborough Road from 1911 to 1912. Ardizzone was educated first at Ipswich School and then, from 1912, at Clayesmore School, a boarding school in Dorset. At Clayesmore, his interest in drawing was encouraged by an art teacher.

Early career

Ardizzone left school in 1918 and twice tried to enlist in the British Army but was refused. After spending six months at a commerce college in Bath, Ardizzone spent several years working as an office clerk in both Warminster and London, where he began taking evening classes at the Westminster School of Art, which were taught by Bernard Meninsky. In 1922, Ardizzone became a naturalised British citizen. While working as an office clerk, Ardizzone had spent his weekends and free time painting and in 1926, with financial support from his father, gave up his office job to concentrate on establishing himself as a professional, freelance artist. In 1936, he inaugurated his best-known work, the Tim series of books, featuring the maritime adventures of its eponymous young hero, which he both wrote and illustrated. Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain was published by Oxford University Press in both London and New York that year. In 1939, he illustrated the first of a series of four Mimff children's books by H.J.Kaesar.

By 1939 Ardizzone was regularly holding one-man exhibitions at the Bloomsbury Gallery and, later, the Leger Gallery. At this time the major theme of his paintings was life in London, with affectionate illustrations of the pubs and parks near his home in Maida Vale. He first served with the British Expeditionary Force and depicted its retreat through France and Belgium before he was evacuated back to Britain from Boulogne in May 1940. In Britain, he recorded troops at their training camps and spent nights sketching in the London Underground, where tube tunnels were being used as air-raid shelters during the Blitz. Ardizzone spent the early part of 1941 travelling around Scotland. In January 1942, he recorded the arrival of American troops in Northern Ireland. In March of that year, he went to Cairo and joined the British First Army on its march to Tunisia, and then joined the Eighth Army. By July 1943, Ardizzone was in Sicily, where he witnessed combat at close quarters, and unusually for him, painted the aftermath of the fighting. He travelled on through Italy with the Eighth Army until April 1944, when he flew to Algiers, from where he sailed back to Britain. In June 1944, he went to France during the Allied invasion, but by September 1944 was back in Italy. He again travelled widely there and witnessed the fall of Reggio Calabria and Naples. He spent the winter of 1944 in Italy before travelling to Germany for the final months of the War.

For illustrating Titus in Trouble, written by James Reeves, Ardizzone was a commended runner-up for the 1959 Greenaway Medal. Ardizzone is particularly noted for having not just illustrated the covers and contents of books, but inked in the title text and author's name in his own hand, giving the books a distinctive look on shelves. An example is Clive King's Stig of the Dump from 1963. The Nurse Matilda series of children's books (1964–74) was written by his cousin Christianna Brand, who was seven years younger. Their shared grandmother had told the stories to both cousins and she had learned them from her father.

Early in the 1970s, Ardizzone illustrated a new edition of the 20-year-old Little books by Graham Greene: The Little Train, The Little Fire Engine, The Little Horse Bus, and The Little Steamroller. He also illustrated a re-telling of the Don Quixote story for children by James Reeves and his illustrations for The Land of Green Ginger by Noel Langley are regarded as classics in their own right.

1974 Royal Designer for Industry
1975 Senior member of the Royal Academy

Posthumous

2007 A blue plaque unveiled in 2007 commemorates Ardizzone's home at 130 Elgin Avenue in Maida Vale.

Selected works

Books written and illustrated by Ardizzone

thumb|Front cover of Stig of the Dump (1971 paperback with original cover art)

Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain (1936)
Lucy Brown and Mr Grimes (1937)
Tim and Lucy Go to Sea (1938)
Baggage to the Enemy (1941)
Nicholas and the Fast-Moving Diesel (1947)
Paul, the Hero of the Fire (1948)
Tim to the Rescue (1949)
Tim and Charlotte (1951)
Tim in Danger (1953)
Tim All Alone (1956) - Kate Greenaway Medal winner, 1956
Johnny the Clockmaker (1960)
Tim's Friend Towser (1962)
Peter the Wanderer (1963)
Diana and her Rhinoceros (1964)
Tim and Ginger (1965)
Sarah and Simon and No Red Paint (1966)
The Little Girl and the Tiny Doll (with Aingelda Ardizzone) (1966)
Tim to the Lighthouse (1968)
The Young Ardizzone - An Autobiographical Fragment (1970)
The Wrong Side of the Bed (1970)
Johnny's Bad Day (1970)
Tim's Last Voyage (1972)
The Old Ballad of the Babes in the Wood (1972)
Diary of a War Artist (1974)
Ship's Cook Ginger (1977)
Indian Diary 1952-53 (1984)

Books by others, illustrated by Ardizzone

In a Glass Darkly, (1929), by Sheridan Le Fanu
The Library, (1930), by George Crabbe
A Mediterranean Anthology, (1935), by Paul Bloomfield
Tom, Dick, and Harriet, (1937), by Neil Lyons
My Uncle Silas, (1939), by H E Bates
The Local, (1939), by Maurice Gorham
Great Expectations, (1939), by Charles Dickens
Mimff, (1939), by H. J. Kaeser
The Battle of France, (1940), by Andre Maurois, translated by F.R. Ludman
The Road to Bordeaux, (1941), by Dennis Freeman and Douglas Cooper
Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes, (1946), by Walter de la Mare
Poems of François Villon, (1946), translated by H. B. McCaskie
The Pilgrim's Progress, (1947), by John Bunyan
Hey Nonny Yes: passons and conceits from Shakespeare, (1947), by Hallam Fordham
Three Brothers and a Lady, (1947), by Margaret Black
Desbarollda, The Waltzing Mouse, (1947), by Noel Langley
Charles Dickens' Birthday Book, (1948), by Enid Dickens-Hawksley
The Otterbury Incident, (1948), by Cecil Day-Lewis
Jubilee Book, (1948), by Leonard Daniels
Back to the Local, (1949), by Maurice Gorham
Mimff in Charge, (1949) by H.J.Kaeser
Showmen and Suckers, (1951), by Maurice Gorham
Londoners, (1951), by Maurice Gorham
The Blackbird in the Lilac, (1952), by James Reeves
The Warden, (1952), by Anthony Trollope
Barchester Towers, (1952), by Anthony Trollope
Mimff Takes Over, (1954), by H.J.Kaeser
The Newcomes, (1954), by William Thackeray, edited by Arthur Pendennis, introduction by Angela Thirkell
The Fantastic Tale of the Plucky Sailor and the Postage Stamp, (1954), by Stephen Corrin
David Copperfield, (1954), by Charles Dickens
Bleak House, (1954), by Charles Dickens
The Little Bookroom, (1955), by Eleanor Farjeon
The Suburban Child, (1955), by James Kenward
Pictures on the Pavement, (1955), by George Walter Stonier
Minnow on the Say, (1955), by Philippa Pearce
Sun Slower Sun Faster, (1955) by Meriol Trevor
A Stickful of Nonpareil, (1956), by George Scurfield
Hunting with Mr. Jorrooks from Handley Cross, (1956), by Robert Smith Surtees
Pigeons and Princesses, (1956), by James Reeves
The Wandering Moon, (1956), by James Reeves
Henry Esmond, (1956), by William Makepeace Thackeray
St. Luke's Gospel, (1956)
Ding Dong Bell, (1957), by Percy Young
Lottie, (1957), by John Symonds
Prefabulous Animiles, (1957), by James Reeves
Sugar for the Horse, (1957), by H. E. Bates
The School in Our Village, (1957), by Joan Goldman
Pinky Pye, (1958), by Eleanor Estes
Jim at the Corner, (1958), by Eleanor Farjeon
The Story of Joseph, (1958), by Walter de la Mare
Mimff Robinson, (1958), by H.J.Kaeser
Shakespeare's Comedies, (1958)
Brief to Counsel, (1958), by Henry Cecil
Holiday Trench, (1959), by Joan Ballantyne
The Godstone and the Blackymor, (1959), by Terence Hanbury White
Titus in Trouble, (1959), by James Reeves
The Adventures of Don Quixote, (1959), retold by James Reeves
Elfrida and the Pig, (1959), by John Symonds
The Nine Lives of Island MacKenzie, (1959), by Ursula Moray-Williams
The Story of Moses, (1959), by Walter de la Mare
The Adventures of Father Brown, (1959), by G. K. Chesterton
The Rib of the Green Umbrella, (1960), by Naomi Mitchison
Boyhood of the Great Composers, (1960), by Catherine Gough
The Story of Samuel and Saul, (1960), by Walter de la Mare
Stories from the Bible, (1960), by Walter de la Mare
Kidnappers at Coombe, (1960), by Joan Ballantyne
Italian Peepshow, (1960), by Eleanor Farjeon
A Penny Fiddle, (1960), by Robert Graves
The Witch Family, (1960), by Eleanor Estes
Merry England, (1960), by Cyril Ray
Tom Sawyer, (1961), by Mark Twain
Huckleberry Finn, (1961), by Mark Twain
Down in the Cellar, (1961), Nicholas Stuart Grey
Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, (1961), by William Cole
Sailor Rumblelow and Britannia, (1962), by James Reeves
Mrs. Malone, (1962), by Eleanor Farjeon
Let's Make an Opera, (1962), by Eric Crozier
Peter Pan, (1962), retold by Eleanor Graham
The Singing Cupboard, (1962), by Dana Faralla
A Ring of Bells, (1962), by John Betjeman
Naughty Children: An Anthology, (1962), compiled by Christianna Brand
Kaleidoscope, (1963), by Eleanor Farjeon
Boyhood of the Great Composers Book II, (1963), by Catherine Gough
Hurdy Gurdy, (1963), by James Reeves
Wine List Decorations, (1963), by John Harvey & Sons, further illustrations by David Gentleman, Asgeir Scott and Shelia Waters
J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan: the story of the Play, (1963), by Eleanor Graham
Stig of the Dump, (1963), by Clive King
Nurse Matilda, (1964), by Christianna Brand
Hello Elephant, (1964), by Jan Wahl
Swanhilda-of-the-Swans, (1964), by Dana Faralla
Thirty-Nine Steps, (1964), by John Buchan
The Land of Up and Down, (1964), by Eva-Lis Wuorio
Three Tall Tales, (1964), by James Reeves
The Island of Fish in the Trees, (1964), by Eva-Lis Wuorio
Ann at Highwood Hall: Poems for Children, (1964), by Robert Graves
The Alley, (1964), by Eleanor Estes
Old Perisher, (1964), by Diana Ross
Timothy's Song, (1965), by William J Lederer
The Truants, (1965), by John Walsh
The Year Round, (1965), by Leonard Clark
The Milldale Riot, (1965), by Freda Nicholls
Know About the Law, (1965), by Henry Cecil
The Old Nurse's Stocking Basket, (1965), by Eleanor Farjeon
The Story of Jackie Thimble, (1965), by James Reeves
The Land of Green Ginger, (1966), by Noel Langley
The Dragon, (1966), by Archibald Marshall
The Muffletumps, (1966), by Jan Wahl
Long Ago When I was Young, (1966), by E. Nesbit
The Eleanor Farjeon book: a tribute to her life and work 1881-1965, (1966), introduction by Naomi Lewis
The Growing Summer, (1966), by Noel Streatfeild
The Secret Shoemakers, (1966), by James Reeves
A Likely Place, (1966), by Paula Fox
Daddy Long Legs, (1966), by Jean Webster
A Group of Apostles, (1966), by Paul Claudel
The Stuffed Dog, (1967), by John Symonds
Kali and the Golden Mirror, (1967) by Eva-Lis Wuorio
Nurse Matilda Goes to Town, (1967), by Christianna Brand
Robinson Crusoe, (1967), by Daniel Defoe
Miranda the Great, (1967), by Eleanor Estes
Rhyming Will, (1967), by James Reeves
Upsidedown Willie, (1967), by Dorothy Clewes
The Magic Summer, (1967), by Noel Streatfeild
Travels with a Donkey, (1967), by R. L. Stevenson
Special Branch Willie, (1968), by Dorothy Clewes
Do You Remember What Happened?, (1969), by Jean Chapman
The Angel and the Donkey, (1970), by James Reeves
Fire Brigade Willie, (1970), by Dorothy Clewes
Rain, Rain, Don’t Go Away, (1972), by Shirley Morgan
The Tunnel of Hugsy Goode, (1972), by Eleanor Estes
The Little Fire Engine, (1973), by Graham Greene
The Little Horse Bus, (1974), by Graham Greene
A Child's Christmas in Wales, (1978), by Dylan Thomas

Notes

References

External links

Edward Ardizzone Archive website
Works by Ardizzone in the Imperial War Museum collection.
Cover of the 1937 Christmas edition of the Radio Times, signed "Ardizzone"
Cover of the 1948 Christmas edition of the Radio Times, signed "DIZ"
Edward Ardizzone Papers, Special Collections at The University of Southern Mississippi (de Grummond Children's Literature Collection)