Details
Title Darley, Felix O. C. (Felix Octavius Carr)
Date June 23, 1822- March 27, 1888
Description Felix Octavius Carr Darley, born June 23, 1822 in Philadelphia, the son of actors John and Eleanor Darley, Jr., was the leading 19th-century American book and magazine illustrator, including in the medium of lithography Originally apprenticed as a clerk, Darley a self-trained artist, entered the field of commercial illustration and design in Philadelphia in 1840. During the 1840s, Darley served as staff illustrator for "Graham's Magazine" and provided engraved illustrations for a number of books and series, including "Scenes of Indian Life" (1843). He also produced lithographs, including the portrait print of performer "John Day, American Jester" issued by Henry Dacre in 1847 and the series printed by Thomas Sinclair "In Town and About" (1843) depicting Philadelphia street life.
In 1848, Dacre relocated to New York where he continued a very successful career as a book and periodical illustrator of the works of popular authors. In 1859, he relocated to Clayton, Delaware following his marriage to Jane Colburn and remained active in the trade until his death on March 27, 1888
Darley was listed in Philadelphia city directories in only the year 1847 as a designer at 417 High (i.e., Market) Street. Throughout his art career, he exhibited work at the National Academy of Design, the Artist Fund Society, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Brooklyn Art Association. He also designed bank note vignettes.
Is part of Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
cdv portrait in celebrities album vol. II, 42a-to be digitized
References See Dacre, Henry and Sinclair, Thomas.
Call number Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Bibliographic citation Census 1860, 1870, 1880
Groce & Wallace, 165
Finlay, Inventing the American Past :... (New York: The New York Public Library, 1999)
Haler, "...illustrated by Darley": An Exhibition... (Wilmington: Delaware Art Museum, 1978)
Library Company of Philadelphia research file
Peters, 151
WWWAA, 824