Gustave Dore

Gustave Dore (b.1832-d.1883) was French painter, illustrator and etcher. He was born in Strasbourg in 1832 and educated at a Parisian lycee. In Paris, Dore became a book illustrator and his commissions included work by Rabelais, Dante and Balzac. In 1853 he was asked to illustrate the works of Lord Byron. In 1861 he published the first of his famous illustrations to Dante's Divine Comedy. This was followed by a new illustrated English Bible. For his Bible illustrations Dore makes optimum use of contrast and chiaroscuro, often reaching quite mystical effects. Dore's English Bible (1865) was a great success and in 1867 Gustave Dore had a major exhibition of his work in London. This led to the foundation of the Dore Gallery in New Bond Street.

Around 1870 Blanchard Jerrold suggested that they worked together to produce a comprehensive portrait of London. Jerrold had got the idea from The Microcosm of London, that had been produced in 1808. Dore signed a five-year project with the publishers Grant & Co. Dore was paid the sum of 10,000 pounds a year for the proposed art work. The book, London: A Pilgrimage, with 180 engravings by Dore, was eventually published in 1872. Although a commercial success, many of the critics disliked the book. Several were upset that Dore had appeared to concentrate on the poverty that existed in London. London: A Pilgrimage was a financial success and Dore received commissions from other British publishers. Dore's later work included Paradise Lost, The Idylls of the King and The Works of Thomas Hood.

Dore continued to illustrate books until his death in 1883.