The above item is to be auctioned in the next few days with the following description:

An original watercolour caricature of Edward Lear, by original cartoonist of Punch magazine, Matthew (Matt Somverille Morgan), circa 1850, 65cm x 48cm overall, framed.

I suppose the  idea that this is a caricature of Edward Lear derives from the fact that the “IDEAS” booklet the person is holding lso contains the word “limericks.” The subject caricatured is nothing like Edward Lear, apart from having a big nose, but not the right shape: I think that at circa 1850 Lear was not famous enough to deserve a caricature and certinly did not look or dress like that.

Moreover, the attribution to Matthew Somerville Morgan (1837-1890) seems impossible, apart from the fact that Morgan did not work for Punch (Richard Scully, p. 9, writes that “he never broke into the hallowed Punch circle”) — he was part owner of Tomahawk and worked for Fun as well as The Illustrated London News in England before emigrating to America — he always signed himself “Matt Morgan” and his style is completely different.

“The Big Black Boom” Her Majesty’s Theatre, Westminster c. 1878. The Big Black Boom, entertainment by black musicians. Minstrels.,Image taken from A collection of pamphlets, handbills, and miscellaneous printed matter relating to Victorian entertainment and everyday life. Originally published/produced in London, 1800 – 1895.

His signature did not change when he worked for the American Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, nor did hi style.

On Morgan, Richard Scully’s “The Bohemian Upstart: Matthew Somerville Morgan (1837-1890),” in his own Eminent Victorian Cartoonists. Vol. II. The Rivals of ‘Mr Punch’. London: Political Cartoon Society, 2018. 8-50.

The caricature of “Edward Lear” might rather be by another artist who signed himself “MATT” though in slightly different way. This Matt worked in the first thirty years of the Twentieth century and produced caricature portraits of famous people. A couple of examples:

This would be the Irish Matt Sandfort (1877-1943), who in 1922 published Sixty Daily Sketch Cartoons of Famous People as “Matt” Sees Them. Is the above cartoon in the book? Can anyone check? Or has a suggestion as to whose caricature this was?

Another one by the same: