René Bull

Who was René Bull?

René Bull was an illustrator born in Dublin on 11 December 1872. He had a French mother and an English father. Bull went to Paris to study engineering, but embarked on an artistic career after meeting and taking drawing lessons from the French satirist and political cartoonist Caran d'Ache. Bull returned to Ireland to contribute sketches and political cartoons to various publications, including the 'Weekly Freeman'. Moving to London in 1892, Bull drew for "Illustrated Brits" and created cartoons in the style of Caran d'Ache for 'Pick-Me-Up' from 1893. In 1896 Bull joined Black and White illustrated newspaper as a special artist and photographer. In 1898 he covered the Tirah Campaign in India and went on to Sudan for the campaign culminating in the Battle of Omdurman. He went to South Africa to record the Boer War until the relief of Ladysmith in March 1900. As he was wounded in 1900, Bull was invalided out. He settled in England and drew cartoons for such magazines as 'Bystander', 'Chums', 'London Opinion' 'Lika Joko'. In 'The Sketch" Bull created cartoons of humorous inventions, predating those of Heath Robinson.