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 such as Walter Crane, and contemporaries Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac. Papé did illustrations for a series of fairy tale books in this early part of his career including those featured here which are taken from “The Russian Story Book” by Richard Wilson published in 1916. He is actually much better known for his later black & white style which illustrated a series of popular satirical works. His career seemingly came an abrupt and unexplained end in 1935 although he did continue to contribute illustrations for a little known children’s periodical “Uncle Ray’s Magazine” up until the early 1950′s. He died in 1972.

“Come Down” Cried the Hero’s Wife     

Diuk Stooped and Caught Chorilo by His Yellow Curls

Then the Princess Ran With Her Feet All Bare, Out Into the Open Corridor

The Water Tsar Dances

She Put Her Good Steed to the Walls and Leapt Lightly Over Them

Marina Lay Upon a Couch and Fondled a Fiery Dragon With Her Right Hand