Leslie Matthew

Leslie Matthew was an illustrator active during the late nineteenth century, with documented production dates spanning from 1873 through 1896. Matthew's output consisted primarily of prints, specifically societal and political portraits created for the popular British magazine Vanity Fair.

The prints attributed to Matthew typically documented prominent contemporary figures, demonstrating the era’s taste for illustrated commentary and caricature. Seven of the artist's prints are represented in major museum collections, establishing the historical value of their illustrative work. The Cleveland Museum of Art holds several of these prints.

Notable examples of Matthew's contributions include the portraiture pieces Vanity Fair: Men of the Day, No. 60, "A Novelist" and Vanity Fair: Statesman, No. 141 "A Feminine Philosopher". Matthew also created Vanity Fair: "The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table" and the specialized portrait A Symphony (Whistler), also known as Vanity Fair: A Symphony.

As historical illustrations, many of these Leslie Matthew prints are now considered part of the public domain. Institutions often make high-quality prints available, allowing researchers and enthusiasts access to this historically significant downloadable artwork.