Joseph Grego (23 September 1843 – 24 January 1908) was an art collector and exhibitor, author and journalist, inventor and graphics expert.

Family origins and company directorships

He was born in 1843, at 23 Granville Square,

Clerkenwell Clerkenwell () is an area of central London, England. Clerkenwell was an ancient parish from the mediaeval period onwards, and now forms the south-western part of the London Borough of Islington. The well after which it was named was redisco ...

, London, the elder son of Joseph Grego (1817–1881) and his wife Louisa Emelia Dawley. His grandfather, Antonio Grego, a native of

Como Como (, ; lmo, Còmm, label=Comasco dialect, Comasco , or ; lat, Novum Comum; rm, Com; french: Côme) is a city and ''comune'' in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Its proximity to Lake Como and ...

in Italy, settled in London before 1821 as a looking-glass manufacturer, the firm becoming Susan Grego and Sons in 1839, and Charles & Joseph Grego in 1845. Joseph Grego invented the 'Colour Photo-Copier', a system of reproducing 18th century colour prints in such exact facsimile that they have often been mistaken for originals. He was also Director of photo-engravers Carl Hentschel Ltd, 1899–1908. 896 Patent: No 2013: “Improvements in the Production of Zink or other Metal Blocks for Printing Purposes.”Grego was also a Director and substantial shareholder of Kegan Paul & Co. from 1903 and ''

The Graphic ''The Graphic'' was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Ltd. Thomas's brother Lewis Samuel Thomas was a co-founder. The premature death of the latt ...

'' Company, until his death.

Writer and editor

After a private education, Grego worked briefly at

Lloyd's Lloyd's of London, generally known simply as Lloyd's, is an insurance and reinsurance market located in London, England. Unlike most of its competitors in the industry, it is not an insurance company; rather, Lloyd's is a corporate body gove ...

the underwriters. As an art journalist and author, he specialised as a writer and collector in the works of

James Gillray James Gillray (13 August 1756Gillray, James and Draper Hill (1966). ''Fashionable contrasts''. Phaidon. p. 8.Baptism register for Fetter Lane (Moravian) confirms birth as 13 August 1756, baptism 17 August 1756 1June 1815) was a British caricatur ...

Thomas Rowlandson Thomas Rowlandson (; 13 July 175721 April 1827) was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian Era, noted for his political satire and social observation. A prolific artist and printmaker, Rowlandson produced both individual social an ...

George Morland George Morland (26 June 176329 October 1804) was an English painter. His early work was influenced by Francis Wheatley, but after the 1790s he came into his own style. His best compositions focus on rustic scenes: farms and hunting; smugglers a ...

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

and

George Cruikshank George Cruikshank (27 September 1792 – 1 February 1878) was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the "modern Hogarth" during his life. His book illustrations for his friend Charles Dickens, and many other authors, reached ...

, and was an acknowledged authority on all of them. Chiefly responsible for the edition o
James Gillray's works (1873)
and editing 'Rowlandson the Caricaturist' (1880), both cited as standard books of reference. He collected much material for a life of Morland, which he did not complete. In 1903, he published 'Cruickshank's Water Colours' with reproductions in colour (published by A.&C. Black, London, MCMIII (on the titlepage), on verso of the titlepage mentioned Published November 1903). In 1874, he compiled a volume of 'Thackerayana;' (600 sketches) (1875 suppressed – reissued 1898.) Grego also edited '' Pear's Pictorial'' (1893–1906), wrote 'History of Parliamentary Elections in the Old days, from the time of the Stuarts to Victoria' (1886 & 1892) and edited Gronow's Reminiscences with repro-prints (1889); Vuilliers 'History of Dancing' (1898) 'Pictorial Pickwickiana:

and his illustrators' (1899) and Goldsmith's 'Vicar of Wakefield', including Forster's essay on the story (1903.).

Collector and exhibitor

Inheriting the spirit of collecting from his father, as an Art dealer, Grego always lent his prints and drawings for public exhibitions, occupying most of his time organising such, chiefly of 'English Humorists in Art.' English Humourists in Art Exhibition; Royal Institute; Piccadilly; 1889. Nottingham Castle Exhibition; also publishing an illustrated souvenir with historical notes for the Royal Naval Exhibition in 1891. From 1897 to 1899 Joseph Grego was secretary of the ' Kernoozer's Club';

Victorian Era Exhibition 1897

Joseph Grego was also a named member of the Honorary Sub-Committee, as an organiser and contributor to; the Historical and Commemorative Section; Charles Dickens Memorials; Art and Letters; for the Victorian Era Exhibition. Earls Court 1897. Opened by HRH The

Duke of Cambridge Duke of Cambridge, one of several current royal dukedoms in the United Kingdom , is a hereditary title of specific rank of nobility in the British royal family. The title (named after the city of Cambridge in England) is heritable by male des ...

, 24 May 1897. This section of the exhibition depicted relics, autographs, paintings, and drawings illustrating novels by Dickens, and also a selection of works by the great Pictorial Humorists of the Victorian Era, &c. The exhibition began with items (58–71), (NB: 1–57 not listed/exhibited), with a series of drawings by Charles Green, RI, illustrating eight of the Dickens works, followed by further (C Green) works lent by Joseph Grego &c &c. This Art Gallery is listed (58–325) concluding with the Dickens Memorial Room, listing items (325a – 325h). Both sections were exhibited in the West-wing of the Earls Court venue.
1897: Victorian Era Exhibition, ''foreword'': “The history of Pickwick – The section undertaken by Mr. Joseph Grego is the fullest collection of Dickensiana ever gathered into one focus. There are (268) illustrations of his works by his contemporaries, some unique and even unpublished*." ;ART AND LETTERS ROOM: THE CHARLES DICKENS MEMORIAL, (''Between Historical and Naval Corridor and Military rooms''.) ;CASE – DICKENS MEMORIALS *325A. Silver Two-Handled Loving Cup, with Stand. Presented to

from the Philosophical Institution, Edinburgh. 26 March 1858. *325B. Pair of Silver and Tortoise-Shell Ash trays. A Memento presented by

Benjamin Disraeli Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, (21 December 1804 – 19 April 1881) was a British statesman and Conservative politician who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He played a central role in the creation o ...

, (afterwards

Earl of Beaconsfield Earl of Beaconsfield, of Hughenden in the County of Buckingham, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1876 for Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, a favourite of Queen Victoria. Victoria favoured Disraeli's Tory poli ...

.) to Charles Dickens. Gadshill, 16 November 1852. Lent by

James Orrock James Orrock Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, R.I., R.O.I. (1829 – 10 May 1913), was a prominent Scottish people, Scottish collector of art and oriental ceramics, illustrator and landscape watercolourist. The scale of his involve ...

, Esq RI. *325C. DISPATCH BOX used by Charles Dickens on his last visit and reading tour to America. With leather cover of the same. Some of the adventures of this Dispatch Box are related by Dickens. See Life of Charles Dickens by John Forster. Lent by J Ashby Sterry, Esq. *325D. WRITING DESK of

Thomas Hood Thomas Hood (23 May 1799 – 3 May 1845) was an English poet, author and humorist, best known for poems such as " The Bridge of Sighs" and "The Song of the Shirt". Hood wrote regularly for ''The London Magazine'', ''Athenaeum'', and ''Punch''. ...

The humourist, (1789–1845). Authenticating Documents in possession of the exhibitor. The Desk was given by Mrs. Hood to the late Thomas Reseigh, and was inherited by the present owner. Lent by James Martin, Esq. *325 E. COLLECTION OF AUTOGRAPH LETTERS OF:- Charles Dickens,

Douglas Jerrold Douglas William Jerrold (London 3 January 18038 June 1857 London) was an English dramatist and writer. Biography Jerrold's father, Samuel Jerrold, was an actor and lessee of the little theatre of Wilsby near Cranbrook in Kent. In 1807 Dougla ...

Thomas Carlyle Thomas Carlyle (4 December 17955 February 1881) was a Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher. A leading writer of the Victorian era, he exerted a profound influence on 19th-century art, literature and philosophy. Born in Ecclefechan, Dum ...

, Cardinal Manning,

Cruickshank Cruickshank is a Scottish surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Adrian Cruickshank (born 1936), Australian politician * Alexander M. Cruickshank (1919–2017), American chemist * Andrew Cruickshank (1907–1988), Scottish actor * ...

Wilkie Collins William Wilkie Collins (8 January 1824 – 23 September 1889) was an English novelist and playwright known especially for ''The Woman in White (novel), The Woman in White'' (1859), a mystery novel and early "sensation novel", and for ''The Moons ...

Tennyson Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) was an English poet. He was the Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign. In 1829, Tennyson was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal at Cambridge for one of his ...

Thackeray William Makepeace Thackeray (; 18 July 1811 – 24 December 1863) was a British novelist, author and illustrator. He is known for his satirical works, particularly his 1848 novel '' Vanity Fair'', a panoramic portrait of British society, and t ...

, Darwin,

, &c., &c. Lent by Maitland Coffin. *325F. TWO AUTOGRAPH LETTERS. The last letter written by the

Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and Tory statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures of 19th-century Britain, serving twice as prime minister of ...

. Letter from Thomas Hood to

Landseer Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (7 March 1802 – 1 October 1873) was an English painter and sculptor, well known for his paintings of animals – particularly horses, dogs, and stags. However, his best-known works are the lion sculptures at the bas ...

. Lent by

Algernon Graves Algernon Graves (London 1845–1922 London) was a British art historian and art dealer, who specialised in the documentation of the exhibition and sale of works of art. He created reference sources that began the modern discipline of provenance r ...

, Esq., F.S.A. ;CARLYLE RELIC *325G. WRITING TABLE, formerly the Property of

, bequeathed by him to Sir

James Fitzjames Stephen Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, 1st Baronet, KCSI (3 March 1829 – 11 March 1894) was an English lawyer, judge, writer, and philosopher. One of the most famous critics of John Stuart Mill, Stephen achieved prominence as a philosopher, law re ...

, Bart., K.C.S.I. Lent by Sir Herbert Stephen, Bart. *325H. H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES (Bronze Statuette). Lent by M.H. Spielman, Esq. ;VEE 1897. Commemorative Medal A memorial Medal (50mm) was struck in the Exhibition by Spink & Son, London, commemorating the Victorian Era Exhibition of 1897, held at Earls Court. The front of the coin has a raised image of Queen Victoria with the surrounding writing Victoria D: G: Britt: Regina F: D: Ind: Imp in commemor an reg sexagesimi MDCCCXCVII. The back of the coin carries the wording Victorian Era Exhibition, opened by HRH The Duke of Cambridge, 24 May 1897. ;See also: "''A Pictorial Reminiscence of a Visit to the Victorian Era Exhibition Earl's Court 1897''", an 18-page illustrated booklet issued by Fownes' Gloves.

Kernoozer's Club

From 1897 to 1899 Joseph Grego was secretary of the Kernoozer's Club; (motto: ''Nostrum de armis quaerere'',) a close and select little body of connoisseurs in Arms and Armour (“''the armour-club par excellence in the world''”) formed to promote ‘''friendly intercourse between Gentlemen to study, collect and exhibit Ancient Armour and Arms''.’ The words kernoozer or kernoozling are late 19th-century humorous travesties on connoisseur. Its sense now extended to form a verb; I kernooze, he kernoozes, I/he should kernoozle. The Kernoozers Club was founded in 1881 by its first president; Charles Alexander, Baron de Cosson, (from a family of

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...

emigres) born in

Durham Durham most commonly refers to: *Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham *County Durham, an English county *Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States *Durham, North Carolina, a city in No ...

28 August 1846. Vice-President was

Robert Alexander Hillingford Robert Alexander Hillingford (28 January 1828 – 1904) was an England, English painter. He specialized in historical pictures, often battle scenes. Biography He was born in London on 28 January 1828, and studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf ...

, (1825–1904) with Joseph Grego as its Secretary. It was limited to 20 members, whose meetings were held at members' homes. Members are known to include

Sir Richard Burton Sir Richard Francis Burton (; 19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was a British explorer, writer, orientalist scholar,and soldier. He was famed for his travels and explorations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, as well as his extraordinary kn ...

;

Egerton Castle __NOTOC__ Egerton Castle M.A., F.S.A. (12 March 1858 – 16 September 1920) was an author, antiquarian, and swordsman, and an early practitioner of reconstructed historical fencing, frequently in collaboration with his colleague Captain Alfred ...

; Sir Walter Pollock;

John Camden Hotten John Camden Hotten (12 September 1832, Clerkenwell – 14 June 1873, Hampstead) was an English bibliophile and publisher. He is best known for his clandestine publishing of numerous erotic and pornographic titles. Life Hotten was born John Wi ...

;

Arthur Charles Fox-Davies Arthur Charles Fox-Davies (28 February 1871 – 19 May 1928) was a British expert on heraldry. His ''Complete Guide to Heraldry'', published in 1909, has become a standard work on heraldry in England. A barrister by profession, Fox-Davies worke ...

; John Forster; and Edward McDermott. A Kernoozers Club meeting was featured in the Magazine of Art (1889; Cassell & Co,) also referred to as "''a club of armour virtuosi''," by ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

''; Identical arm and armour societies were supposedly forming in Madrid and Paris about that time emulating the Kernoozers, which folded in 1922 (Sirelmann, p. 363). In 1890 the Junior Kernoozers Club was founded, this club, later becoming the Meyrick Society, whose collections of armour now form the bulk of the

Wallace Collection The Wallace Collection is a museum in London occupying Hertford House in Manchester Square, the former townhouse of the Seymour family, Marquesses of Hertford. It is named after Sir Richard Wallace, who built the extensive collection, along w ...

in London.

Reviews

1897: VEE: “The history of Pickwick – The section undertaken by Mr. Joseph Grego is the fullest collection of Dickensiana ever gathered into one focus. There are illustrations of his works by his contemporaries, some unique and even unpublished*." 1899: "Pictorial Pickwickiana:” Unique. Being literary and artistic treasures unlikely to come onto the market – their value… inestimable – examples beyond price – unequalled in interest from a literary/historical point of view – scarce, costly and difficult to procure and impossible for an individual to secure a collection of...

Death

Joseph Grego died unmarried on 24 January 1908, at the address where he was born and spent most of his life. He was buried in a family grave on the eastern side of

Highgate Cemetery Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in north London, England. There are approximately 170,000 people buried in around 53,000 graves across the West and East Cemeteries. Highgate Cemetery is notable both for some of the people buried there as ...

British Library and estate auctions

His vast accumulations of prints, drawings, and books &c, were dispersed on his death at

Christie's Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766 by James Christie (auctioneer), James Christie. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's in London, at Rockefeller Center in New York City and at Alexandra House in Hong Kong. It is ...

(April to June 1908) and Puttick and Simpson (April, June, July 1908.) There are 28 indexed files of Grego's submissions in the

British Library The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and is one of the largest libraries in the world. It is estimated to contain between 170 and 200 million items from many countries. As a legal deposit library, the British ...

. Although Grego was involved with photographic techniques throughout his life, with the exception of 87 19th century glass-negatives of Pickwickiana* in his estate, withheld from the 1897 VEE, there are no other surviving Grego-photographic records. Albeit there are receipts for '

Photogravure Photogravure (in French ''héliogravure'') is a process for printing photographs, also sometimes used for reproductive intaglio printmaking. It is a photo-mechanical process whereby a copper plate is grained (adding a pattern to the plate) and ...

plates produced by Joseph Grego for use by '

Chapman and Hall Chapman & Hall is an imprint owned by CRC Press, originally founded as a British publishing house in London in the first half of the 19th century by Edward Chapman and William Hall. Chapman & Hall were publishers for Charles Dickens (from 184 ...

'- Dickens's publishers, and a rare life-photograph* of

Hablot Knight Browne Hablot Knight Browne (10 July 1815 – 8 July 1882) was an English artist and illustrator. Well-known by his pen name, Phiz, he illustrated books by Charles Dickens, Charles Lever, and Harrison Ainsworth. Early life Of Huguenot ancestry, Hablot ...

('Phiz').

Jules Bastien-Lepage Jules Bastien-Lepage (1 November 1848 – 10 December 1884) was a French painter closely associated with the beginning of naturalism, an artistic style that emerged from the later phase of the Realist movement. His most famous work is his lan ...

drew a small head of Grego in pen and ink on a visit to London, circa 1880–81.The Times, Obituaries. 28 January 1908

Obituaries

The Times, 28 Jan; Athenaeum, 2 Feb; Graphic 1 February 1908; (With portrait from a photo.)

References

Research notes

Robert Seymour (illustrator) Robert Seymour (1798 – 20 April 1836) was a British illustrator known for his illustrations for ''The Pickwick Papers'' by Charles Dickens and for his caricatures. He committed suicide after arguing with Dickens over the illustrations for ''Pi ...

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Grego, Joseph Charles Dickens Pioneers of photography English people of Italian descent 1843 births 1908 deaths Burials at Highgate Cemetery