George Loraine Stampa

George Loraine Stampa (29 November 1875 – 26 May 1951), also known as G. L. Stampa, was a British artist. He contributed to Punch for over 50 years and was the illustrator for books written by A. P. Herbert, E. V. Lucas and Anthony Armstrong.

Early life George Loraine Stampa was born Giorgio Stampa in Istanbul on 29 November 1875, the son of Giorgio Domenico Stampa and Ann (née Heelis) who was the daughter of the Rector of Long Marton in England. Stampa's father, Giorgio Domenico Stampa, was also born in Istanbul but educated in Westmorland, England, under the Rev. William Shepherd at Long Marton, later joining the architectural practice of Edward Walters in Manchester where he worked on the design of the Manchester Free Trade Hall and other projects in that City. Stampa's father became a British citizen in 1889, as did his children.

George Loraine Stampa was educated at Appleby Grammar School (where the father of George Washington was educated), Heatherly's Art School (1892–93), and, as a contemporary of Heath Robinson and Lewis Baumer, In the 8th century, his ancestor, Carlo Lanfranco D'Estampes, was seigneur of Dreux and Étampes in France.

One of Stampa's ancestors, Gaspara Stampa (1520-1554), was an esteemed poet during the Italian Renaissance.

In addition to Punch, Stampa was an illustrator for most of the illustrated weeklies, including The Bystander, The Humorist, The Sketch and The Tatler. and illustrator to the Punch theatre column, "At the Play", signing some of his work as Harris Brooks. Ronald Searle took responsibility for the theatre column in 1949. Stampa's brother, Lelio, was a witness at the wedding.

Stampa was a member of the Savage Club, having been elected by Leonard Raven-Hill, and would later serve on the board of trustees. He designed a menu for a dinner at the Savage Club on 21 January 1928 that was chaired by A. P. Herbert. Stampa died in London on 26 May 1951.

He was a man who cared deeply for England and things English. Although given to nostalgia, G. L. S. was at home in the world of his life and times which, however Bohemian (of the gentler sort), remained one of "an English sun under an English Heaven". Yet we should never forget that G. L. S. gained from his Italian forebears a special warmth and lightness of touch - the ragamuffins of Seven Dials were the blood brothers of those of Venice and Milan. He was very much a man of his times, an honoured member of a family of ancient descent.

Gallery

Selected works In praise of dogs; an anthology for all dog lovers, by G. L. Stampa. Published by Frederick Muller, London, 1955. Humours of the Street, by G. L. Stampa. Published by Methuen, London, 1921. Ragamuffins, by G. L. Stampa. Published by Duckworh, London, 1916. Loud laughter: humorous drawings illustrating Easy French exercises, by G. L. Stampa with verses by C. Errington Pegler. Published by Cassell & Co. in London and New York, 1907.

Selected book illustrations Kipling, Rudyard. Collected Dog Stories. Published by World Books, London, 1939. Murray, A. Maitland. Gerogie M' culloch. Published by Bodley Head and John Lane, London, 1933. Armstrong, Anthony. The Easy Warriors. Published by Methuen, London, 1932. Herbert, Alan Patrick. Ballads for Broadbows. Published by Ernest Benn, London, 1930. Kipling, Rudyard. The Servant a Dog, told by Boots. Published by Macmillan & Co., London, 1930. Walker, Joe. That Dog Of Mine. Published by Ward Lock, London and Melbourne, 1930. Kipling, Rudyard. Supplications of the Black Aberdeen. Published by Doubleday, London and New York, 1929. Walker, Joe. My Dog and Yours. Published in London, 1929. Cummins, Stevenson Lyle. Plays for Children. Published by Methuen, London, 1922. Lucas, Edward Verrall. Urbanites; essays new and old. Published by Methuen, London, 1921. Lucas, Edward Verrall. Specially selected: a choice of essays, with a pictorial commentary. Published by Methuen, London, 1921. Atkey, Bertram. Easy Money, the genuine book of Henry Mitch, his genuine search for other folk's wealth, and his urgent fear of the feminine. Published by Grant Richards, London, 1908.