Frederics’s art drew the readers in

He was the illustrator of the seminal novel Three Men in a Boat, but Arthur Frederics was already a famous illustrator before he gave a face to the names in Jerome K Jerome’s books. In an age when cameras were in their infancy and press photographs did not exist, every illustration had to be drawn by hand. Historian MARK BRYANT tells the rest of his story.

Tooting has been the home of many comic celebrities from music-hall star Sir Harry Lauder to humorous columnist J.B.Morton of Beachcomber fame.

But the doomed Merton Lodge in Tooting High Street – for many years part of the Tooting Constitutional Club – was once the home of Arthur Frederics (1848-1929), illustrator of Jerome K. Jerome’s classic Victorian comic novel Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) (1889).

Frederics was very much a South Londoner, and lived in the area for more than half a century – he and his Lambeth-born wife Florence were married in St Michael’s Church, Stockwell, in 1876.

But in the five years he was living in Merton Lodge, from 1884 until 1889, he also produced numerous magazine, newspaper and book illustrations as well as designs for costumes and props for many West End theatres.

In the autumn of 1884, Frederics and his wife moved into Merton Lodge with their two young sons – six-year-old George, who was born in Brixton – and four-year-old Herbert, born in Balham.

A daughter, Mabel, was born in the house in May 1888.

The Lodge then adjoined the grounds of St Leonard’s, a large house later demolished to make way for Woodbury Street.

On the south side of the building a studio window would have given him a pleasant view over the gardens of St Leonard’s as he drew the three men on their adventures on the River Thames.

Also, as Jerome insisted that Montmorency was entirely fictional – neither he nor his two real-life friends owned a dog – it would have been at Merton Lodge that Frederics created the image of the mischievous terrier.

At the time of his arrival in Tooting, Frederics was a distinguished and well-established illustrator, who had produced many whole-page, often multi-image drawings for weekly papers and magazines such as the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News, the Illustrated London News and The Penny Illustrated Paper.

In the days before press photography such images of actors, productions and events were an important form of news, information and publicity.

He had also designed costumes and props for many West End shows and one of his original sketches for an 1884 production of the oriental romance Lalla Rookh at the Novelty Theatre is now in the collection of the Huntingdon Museum in San Marino, California.

Frederics continued with similar press and theatre work when living in Tooting, notably designing costumes and props for the pantomime Whittington and His Cat (1884) at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, managed by Sir Augustus Harris ‘The Father of Modern Pantomime’ – whose spectacular productions were the most popular Christmas entertainments in Victorian London.

When a review failed to mention his contribution, Frederics wrote a letter of complaint which was published in the theatre magazine The Era, giving Merton Lodge as his address.

While in Tooting, Frederics also drew regularly for the weekly political magazine The St Stephen’s Review including an 1886 New Year illustration, contributions to Christmas and other special issues, and a drawing of the City of London Jubilee Ball at the Guildhall to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee (July 2, 1887).

He also drew book illustrations but despite his best efforts was declared bankrupt in December 1888.

He kept on working and in 1889 began to contribute to the newly launched London edition of the US magazine Puck.

In the spring of that year he was invited by Jerome to illustrate Three Men in a Boat which was an instant hit and is still available with Frederics’ original drawings.

But Frederics benefited little from the success of the book to which his illustrations had contributed so much.

He only received a £10 flat fee for his 60 drawings (c.£1,300 in 2021, or c.£22 each).

His father died in June 1889 while he was working on the book, which was published in September 1889 shortly before he and his family left London for a new life in Australia.

The first review, which praised his drawings, appeared while he was still at sea.

Probably the last event connected to Frederics while he was living at Merton Lodge occurred on Thursday, September 26 when some theatrical friends held a farewell party in his honour.

As the St Stephen’s Review said: “Arthur Frederics, whose drawings have at various times appeared in this and various other papers has left London for Australia, where he will use his pencil for the benefit of the Antipodeans.

“In recognition of his devotion to dramatic illustration, various members of the profession subscribed a testimonial to him in the shape of a well-filled purse, which was presented with all due formality on Thursday evening.”

Frederics stayed in Australia for seven years, notably designing costumes for productions at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Sidney – the city’s largest theatre.

It was then owned by the British actor and impresario, George Rignold.

When he returned he lived and worked at various addresses in South London, from Balham and Streatham to Oval and Brixton over the next 30 years.

When in his seventies he was remembered as being “of florid complexion with scanty but rather long grey hair, and had blue eyes that seemed to twinkle with good humour.”

He died in Wokingham, near Reading, at the home of his eldest sister.

There is little chance of him being honoured with a Blue Plaque, as his former home is due to be demolished shortly, to make way for a new hotel.

It is a great shame that Merton Lodge, in which he produced some of his most memorable work, should be knocked down.

Perhaps at the very least the new hotel could name its bar after him or Montmorency?

Or perhaps it could serve a special cocktail – maybe called The Hair of the Dog?

Dr Mark Bryant lives in South London and is a member of the Jerome K. Jerome Society

Main pic: Three elderly fishermen knocked into the bottom of their boat after being rammed by Jerome and his friends near Marlow, from Three Men in a Boat (Not to Mention the Dog) (1889)