Satire and the art world

Joseph Edgar Boehm with a bust of John Ruskin, Leslie Ward, 1881

Satire has always been considered a lesser art to that of fine art. In the eighteenth century when academic art searched for the ideal figure, satire showed the imperfections of reality and high subjects gave way to contemporary life.

Ironically satire was always popular, when 'high' artists were often not and satirists were always at hand to prick the pomposity and pretensions of some art practises.

       

This main print above is a full length portrait by Leslie Ward of Joseph Edgar Boehm, the 'Queen's sculptor', working on a bust of John Ruskin. Ward, who signed his work 'SPY', produced some of the most popular caricature portraits for Vanity Fair.