In his brief and troubled life, Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) was as haunted by tragedy and loss as he was plagued by poverty, illness, and alcoholism. Poe's personal misfortunes doubtless influenced the dark romanticism of his work. Obsessed with death, decay, and madness, he created compelling narratives of characters trapped in perverse situations. The profound influence of his stories and poetry extends not only to world literature but also to the visual arts. This outstanding collection, ...

Every generation has a chance to rediscover the ageless tales from Arthurian myth. But who was King Arthur? Was he a great and noble king, a strong warrior chieftain, a Celtic deity, or a compelling character of myth and legend? The lack of solid evidence has fueled fierce debate among scholars and historians. But whether or not we can verify his existence — or guess at his appearance — a gallery of important artists have used their prodigious talents to depict King Arthur and his...

This enchanting gallery transports viewers to a fairy tale world — an ageless fantasy realm inhabited by characters from favorite folktales and depicted by renowned artists. Lovingly reproduced from rare early editions, more than 180 illustrations portray scenes from stories by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and other sources, including ancient Celtic and Norse legends. Breathtaking art, dating from 1882 to 1923, captures the genius of 23 illustrators, including Arthur Rackha...

Through his extraordinarily drawn interpretations of favorite fairy tales and fantastic literature, Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) remains an enduring legend of the Victorian era's Golden Age of Illustration. Rackham took the printing developments of the early twentieth century further than any other artist of his time, masterfully manipulating the latest color processes. At once a technical and artistic genius, Rackham had few equals when it came to the use of muted color, ambience, and expre...

According to legend, a resourceful bride won a stay of execution by captivating a sultan with a series of fantastic tales—and after 1,001 nights, the sultan could not bear to part with his storyteller. More than a thousand years later, readers continue to fall under the spell of the romantic adventures known as the Arabian Nights. This original collection features rare and unusual illustrations inspired by the traditional tales of Sinbad, Aladdin, Ali Baba, and a host of other exo...

Before Andrew and Jamie, there was N. C. Wyeth. The star student of Howard Pyle's Brandywine School, Newell Convers Wyeth (1882–1945) created more than 3,000 illustrations in the course of his career. This original full-color collection focuses on his most popular illustrations, featuring early works that date from 1910-30. More than 100 iconic images include scenes from The Last of the Mohicans, The Mysterious Stranger, Robin Hood, Robinson Crusoe, Rip Van Winkle, The Boy's King Arthu...

A prodigiously talented pair of English twins, the Detmold brothers shared an intense passion for drawing and observing animals. As young children, they began sketching at the Zoological Gardens in London, displayed their work at the Royal Academy by the time they were 13, and published their first book of illustrations soon after. The British art world recognized their unique gift immediately and saw them as a single creative soul residing in two bodies. Their exquisite etchings, watercol...

"Dunn, in his teaching, was more concerned with the essential spirit of work than with technical procedures. He never taught what kind of brushes or what kind of paint to use. It was merely whether the result had anything in common with the excitement of human existence." — Dean Cornwell, "the Dean of Illustrators"Illustrator and painter Harvey Dunn was deeply influenced by Howard Pyle and the teaching he received while at his school. Pyle's Brandywine students became some of the m...

A prominent figure in the Victorian art world, Walter Crane not only participated in the late nineteenth century's publishing revolution but also led the way toward the Golden Age of Illustration. Crane was instrumental in the transition from simple black-and-white illustrations for children's books to gallery-quality artwork. This original collection features more than one hundred of the influential artist's brilliant images. It constitutes a survey of his paintings as well as a visual hi...

One of the most influential (and most prolific) illustrators of children's books during the early twentieth century, Edmund Dulac brought countless fairy tales to life through his distinct artistic style, subtle use of color, and fanciful compositions. This archive of masterworks by the renowned illustrator — all reproduced from rare early editions — contains 55 of his most beguiling images.Included are exquisite illustrations for "The Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella," "The Snow Queen...

Maxfield Parrish enjoyed tremendous popularity throughout the early decades of the twentieth century. Bruce Watson, writing in Smithsonian magazine, deemed Parrish the "comman man's Rembrandt." It's said that during the Depression, a Parrish illustration was displayed on the walls of one out of every four American homes. The artist's romantic, richly colored images of winsome maidens and faraway places continue to appeal to modern audiences.Selected from hundreds of the art...

Educator and artist James Hall draws upon his extensive teaching experience to demonstrate how to develop a successful approach to the use of pen and ink. His two-part treatment addresses both decorative and pictorial drawing. Starting with outlines, composing, and the use of solids and hatching, Hall progresses to the renderings for more advanced practitioners of still lifes, architecture, and figures. A great companion for beginners, this volume can help develop a casual interest into a ...