Alexander Dalziel Paintings

Alexander Dalziel was a British engraver and a member of the notable Dalziel family, which played a significant role in Victorian art and illustration. Born in 1827, he worked alongside his brothers in their family business, Dalziel Brothers, which was one of the most prominent and prolific wood-engraving companies of the nineteenth century. The brothers were born in Scotland but later moved to London to establish their firm, which became instrumental in the production of illustrations for books and periodicals of the time.

The Dalziel Brothers, including Alexander, worked with many important artists of the day, translating their works into engravings that could be reproduced in print. Their collaboration with artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, and John Everett Millais, among others, was crucial in disseminating the Pre-Raphaelite style. Moreover, they were involved in the production of seminal works such as Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and its sequel 'Through the Looking-Glass,' for which they engraved the illustrations by John Tenniel.

Alexander, as part of the Dalziel firm, contributed to the family's legacy of craftsmanship and quality. The company's work extended beyond book illustrations to include the production of images for magazines, catalogs, and a variety of other printed materials. Their engravings were known for their precision and clarity, helping to set the standard for wood-engraved illustrations during the Victorian era.

The Dalziel Brothers' business operated for several decades, and their influence on the visual culture of the time was significant. They not only provided a platform for artists to reach a wider audience through mass-produced illustrations but also contributed to the development of graphic arts in Britain. Alexander Dalziel passed away in 1905, leaving behind a rich heritage of artistic contribution and a name synonymous with the highest quality in Victorian engraving.