Encyclopedias: Spartacus Educational: Artists and Architects: Harry Furniss

Description: Abstract: Son of an engineer, born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1854 he worked as an artist in Ireland but in 1876 he moved to England and found work with the Illustrated London News. Over the next eight years he developed a reputation as an outstanding draughtsman. His work became extremely popular with the British public and this enabled him to tour the country giving lectures on subjects such as The Frightfulness of Humour and Humours of Parliament. In 1894 he started his own cartoon magazine, Like Joka. The magazine was not a financial success and he moved to the USA where he worked in the film industry with Thomas Edison. In 1914 Furniss helped pioneer the animated cartoon film. Harry Furniss died in 1925.