Jeff A. Menges - Visions of Camelot: Great Illustrations of King Arthur and His Court

Merlin

AUBREY BEARDSLEY

During his tragically short lifewhich could be described as a flash of brillianceAubrey Beardsley produced many influential works and enduring images. A prodigy whose work was first published when he was thirteen, Beardsley saw his artwork appear in magazines and journals in his youth. He was approached by publisher J. M. Dent to tackle a massive undertakingthe production of more than 300 images for Sir Thomas Malorys Morte DArthur. The commission would occupy Beardsley for over a year, a commitment made even more poignant because Beardsley did not live to see his twenty-sixth birthday. He succumbed to tuberculosis, which had plagued him all of his brief adult life. The iconic and contrast-heavy style that Beardsley developed at the end of the Arthur project made his work easily recognizable a century later. He is remembered as one of the leading figures in Art Nouveau illustration.

Merlin taketh the child Arthur into his keeping

The Lady of the Lake telleth Arthur of the Sword Excalibur

Arthur and the strange mantle

Sir Launcelot and the Witch Hellawes

How Sir Tristram drank of the love drink

How Morgan le Fay gave a shield to Sir Tristram

How Sir Lancelot was known by Dame Elaine

Book xviii Chapter 1 Frame

How Queen Guenever rode on Maying

Sir Bors sees the child Galahad

WILLIAM ERNEST CHAPMAN

An American illustrator and painter, Chapman studied in both New York and Europe with the French Romantic painter Bourgereau and American artist and instructor John Vanderpoel, among others. While his studio work appears to have had traditional themes, his two better-known illustrated books both were devoted to Arthurian themes. His work here in The Story of Sir Galahad adapted from Maloryis notable because of the large expanses of flat color and the stained-glass qualities of the images. Chapman was active in the illustration field from 1905 until 1915.

Title page

Various chapter decorations

The departure of the knights

Sir Galahad overthrows Launcelot and Percivale

Galahad meets with his father

Sir Galahad beholds the Sangreal uncovered

Young Owen appeals to the King

WALTER CRANE

Considered one of the forefathers to the English illustrators who dominated the early twentieth century, Walter Crane was one of the few who were accepted in both the illustration and fine-art circles. Working regularly with fairy tales and myths as subject matter, Cranes repeated successes made him one of book illustrations first real starshis name became a selling point for the books he had worked on. Crane took in many influences to form his style, including Medieval and Renaissance works for their symbolism, and Japanese prints for their line and color usage. The Arthurian tales were a natural vessel for Cranes later style, resulting in a set of images both simple and clear in their imagery, taking advantage of the full range of Cranes influences to tell their stories.

Arthur draws the sword from the stone

King Arthur asks the Lady of the Lake for the sword Excalibur

Sir Launcelot in the Chapel Perilous