Frank Cheyne Papé was a British illustrator of the “Golden Age” of book illustration. Born in 1878, there appears to be very little information available to us about his life and work. We know that his first work was around 1908. This early coloured work was similar in style and maybe influenced by artists of the 1890′s [...]
Sorry for the lack of posts recently – I’ve been rather busy with other stuff so have neglected the blog somewhat. Anyway, today I have some amazing illustrations from a 1915 publication entitled ‘Researches Into Chinese Superstitions’ by Henry Doré. This appears to be a multi volume work and these particular illustrations are taken from [...]
Virginia Frances Sterrett was an American illustrator best known for her work for the 1928 publication of The Arabian Nights. I have been an admirer of her brilliant illustrations for some time but knew little about her life and career prior to researching this post. Her story, it seems is something of a tragic one. [...]
Sidney H Sime was an illustrator of the “Golden Age” (late 19th & early 20th centuries) best known for his work for Irish story teller Lord Dunsany. His carreer interested me as he is from my home city of Manchester. Seemingly, he was a “jack of all trades” before following his career as an artist. [...]
Giambattista della Porta was an Italian scholar and playwright perhaps best known for his esoteric work Natural Magic. The illustrations I have for you today are taken from his 1586 publication De Humana Physiognomonia. Phisiognomy is the is the assessment of a person’s character or personality from their outward appearance, most notably, their face. Della Porta’s serious [...]
Journal des Dames et des Modes was a French fashion periodical published in the 1910′s and illustrated by some of the finest illustrators of the Art Deco period. Featured here are a selection of illustrations from what appeared to be a regular feature of the magazine – Costumes Parisienes. Many of the images are by George [...]
Browsing the Internet Archive this week, I came accross an Italian book with the magnificently long title: Le guerre festiue delle reali nozze de’ serenissimi e cattolici re di Spagna Carlo secondo e Maria Luisa di Borbone : celebrate nella felice e fedelissima città di Palermo, dall’ Illustrissimo Senato della medesima citta … nell’anno M.DC.LXXX [...]
E A Séguy was a French decorative illustrator who produced 11 books of patterns and illustrations in the early part of the 20th century. A distinctive feature of both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods (across which his work spanned) was the drawing of inspiration from the beauty of nature. Presented here are sample [...]
Conrad Gesner’s Historiae Animalium was the first recognised zoological book and the frst attempt to describe all of the world’s known animals. Published in Zurich 1551 – 58, it was unusual at the time in that it featured many illustrations. Although it also featured mythical creatures, imagine the wonder an average citizen of the 16th [...]
French illustrator George Barbier led the ultra fashionable “Knights of the Bracelet” school of artists throught the 1910′s & 20′s. He designed theater and ballet costumes and worked with Erte on costumes for the Folies Bergere: His style for me, exemplifies the cool decadance of the Art Deco period – you can almost imagine, just [...]
