I'm a professional artist. Here is my Ripper idea.

[Wickerman]

... What does everyone think?

Hello.

Just love detailed sketches like this, though there is a strong resemblance to Sugden's latest cover.



One observation that comes to mind is that in the sketch, from the waist down, it looks more like a dress. A coat or cape doesn't flounce out so wide as is shown.
Men's clothing was heavy material, a cape or coat would hang straight down even when the man is walking.
Still, it is a moving representation of the classical 'Ripper' theme.

[Pcdunn]

More unique but much less appealing, it would seem. So what actually is the attraction of the top-hatted toff look, that also seems to be popular in the general public?

Does everyone project ideas onto the almost blank Ripper slate, including serious Ripperologists? For example, that the man was a loner, and/or that he lived alone?

I think the top hat and cape was popularized more in the 20th-century movies than in drawings contemporary to the era of the crimes. There is a connection to both the idea of an evil doctor, as well as an upper-crust (or even royal?) personage.

Newspaper drawings of the Ripper from the period of the murders varied widely, as did the ideas of his identity. Some were stereotypical images of Jewish or foreign immigrants (reflecting the idea that Jack couldn't have been "an Englishman"), others showed men in ragged clothing (suggesting the lower classes), and a famous one depicts a symbolic skeleton with a blood dripping knife.
More often, the drawings tried to depict the man witnesses described, often differing only in the type of hat, age, and facial hair.

Today, Jack is considered to be more likely a man who seemed normal enough, and could have fitted into the slums without being noticed. Not exciting, maybe, but perfectly understandable to a society familiar with serial killers who "seemed the quiet sort" and were able to cover up their murderous urges.

From an artistic viewpoint, it is true that without his top hat and doctor's bag, we may not recognize Jack the Ripper. The Granada television series of Sherlock Holmes broke with tradition when they had Jeremy Brett's character of the detective wear a top hat in the city, never his (trademark) deerstalker cap. It was more in keeping with history, and helped make this Holmes stand out from his predecessors. So, it can be done.

Wish you well with your drawing! Good luck!

[NotBlamedForNothing]

A lot of artists have made depictions of the Ripper as the stereotypical top-hatted toff. If you instead drew a "historically accurate Jack the Ripper" based on eyewitness testimony, that would make you more unique.

More unique but much less appealing, it would seem. So what actually is the attraction of the top-hatted toff look, that also seems to be popular in the general public?

Does everyone project ideas onto the almost blank Ripper slate, including serious Ripperologists? For example, that the man was a loner, and/or that he lived alone?

[Damaso Marte]

Not a single eyewitness describes the Ripper as wearing a top hat.

Here are how some of the more credible eyewitnesses described men who were seen in the vicinity of Ripper crimes:

Joseph Lawende

"of shabby appearance, about 30 years of age and 5ft. 9in. in height, of fair complexion, having a small fair moustache, and wearing a red neckerchief and a cap with a peak".

Mary Ann Cox

The man was aged around 35 or 36 and was about 5' 5" tall. He was shabbily dressed in a long overcoat and a billycock hat. He had a blotchy face and small side whiskers and a carroty mustache. The man is carrying a pail of beer.

A lot of artists have made depictions of the Ripper as the stereotypical top-hatted toff. If you instead drew a "historically accurate Jack the Ripper" based on eyewitness testimony, that would make you more unique.

[Abby Normal]

Hi, guys! I'm new here, but I am really excited to be joining you all. I work as a professional pastel artist and I've been wanting to draw something Ripper-related for quite some time. At first, I thought that I would use a photo I found of a caped man in a top hat staring up at Big Ben, but then I came across another that I felt did a much better job at capturing the notorious legend in an artistic manner. Attached is the picture. I am going to add an additional streetlamp in the lefthand area of the foreground because the lighting on the blade as it currently stands doesn't make any logical sense. I'm also going to add a pool of blood at Ripper's feet near his shadow as if he is walking away from his latest murder scene. The light from the added streetlamp will reflect off of both the knife and the pool of blood. This blood is going to be red, as it should be, and will be the only color in an otherwise black and white drawing. This is called selective color. What does everyone think?

i think it might be cool to add a wisp of green fog in there somewhere too. i like to paint to but mainly oil on canbas. itll be interesting to see how it turns out, please post when you are done.

[Abby Normal]

your a strange bird

but in a good way.

[Abby Normal]

Hi, guys! I'm new here, but I am really excited to be joining you all. I work as a professional pastel artist and I've been wanting to draw something Ripper-related for quite some time. At first, I thought that I would use a photo I found of a caped man in a top hat staring up at Big Ben, but then I came across another that I felt did a much better job at capturing the notorious legend in an artistic manner. Attached is the picture. I am going to add an additional streetlamp in the lefthand area of the foreground because the lighting on the blade as it currently stands doesn't make any logical sense. I'm also going to add a pool of blood at Ripper's feet near his shadow as if he is walking away from his latest murder scene. The light from the added streetlamp will reflect off of both the knife and the pool of blood. This blood is going to be red, as it should be, and will be the only color in an otherwise black and white drawing. This is called selective color. What does everyone think?

your a strange bird

Welcome!! Look forward to your artwork

Thank you! Happy to be here!

Hi Starlit, I'm sure that my original comment will still stand when I see your finished work.

Thank you so much! That is greatly appreciated!

[Christian]

Thanks, but the Ripper image is the reference picture. I haven't drawn him yet. My art will be identical to that image, though. I specialize in reproducing photos and other drawings in pastel.

Welcome!! Look forward to your artwork

[barnflatwyngarde]

Hi Starlit, I'm sure that my original comment will still stand when I see your finished work.

Ooh, that's atmospheric!

You're good!

Thanks, but the Ripper image is the reference picture. I haven't drawn him yet. My art will be identical to that image, though. I specialize in reproducing photos and other drawings in pastel.

[barnflatwyngarde]

Ooh, that's atmospheric!

You're good!

[Ms Diddles]

My apologies!

I hadn't realised that was just your reference picture!

Your work above looks interesting.

Lovely use of colour!

I will look forward to seeing your finished piece!

Yeah!

Got it!

Nice work!

I really like the cobbles and dark alley.

It's very atmospheric and reminds me a bit of Gunthorpe St and Angel Alley (so you're right on target there).

The classic image of the top hatted, cape wearing toff is largely dismissed however, so some posters may be critical of your use of it in your picture.

Still, artistic license is allowed (and it is a classic horror movie persona!)

Yeah, I wanted to go with his iconic look so people knew who he was right away. The above isn't my drawing. It's the reference picture. My drawing will be the same, though, albeit with what I've already decided to add to it. It will be done in soft pastel and my specific technique gives my work what is almost a velvety look. Here is one of my previous works where you can see the texture.

—EDITED TO REMOVE ART—