Richard André

Richard André (1834-1907) was a British author, playwright, and illustrator, born William Roger Snows. At 21 years old and the eldest son in his wealthy family, he inherited a large sum of money, which was quickly spent, and went into military services after a year. Snows adopted the name "Clifford Merton" after several scandals of marital infidelity, which culminated in the end of his military career, and under this name, he earned a living as a writer and illustrator. When his identity was revealed by his estranged wife, the name "Richard André" begins to come into use, and it is under this name that he was most prolific and his most well-known works were produced. Despite his notable fairytale illustrations, André did not remain a traditional artist and moved on to mediums such as photography and print.