My great great grandfather Henry Ashworth bought this book in the year it was published (1853). When his son Almaric Spencer Ashworth showed artistic talent, he presented the book to him.I have no examples of Henry's work, but I do have two sketch books of Almarics dating back to the 1870s, showing he has clearly put this book into practice.
The books intent was to bring what was taught in art schools to the working class who couldn't afford art school, but nevertheless had a talent that could be nurtured. This clearly worked judging by the quality of his sketches, and this was passed onto his son Donald (my grandad) as I have his sketch book and one of his oil paintings.
My dad continued the work through his sketches (alas not so talented with the painting) but he was an excellent furinture designer and his pen & watercolour designs are a beauty to behold, and then to my brother and I in our youth. My brother Ian painted greco-roman style commissions in the 1980s to fund his wanderlust. I'm pleased to say my children have picked up the talents too, with my son being a character artist in the games industry and my daughter does some wonderful sketches for the costumes she designs for the theatre.
Not a bad lineage for this humble book?