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Discover historical illustrations by subject, artist and book.

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Blake’s Book of Urizen

Creation and rebellion in Blake’s illuminated plates.

Nielsen’s East of the Sun

Norwegian fairy tales illustrated by Kay Nielsen.

Gnostic Spirit Drawings

Four colour drawings from a 1908 Gnostic text.

Doré’s Dante

From the dark wood to Paradise with Gustave Doré.

The Kingdom of the Gods

Ethelwynne Quail’s visions of the spirit world.

Vassos’s Phobia

Art Deco studies of fear by John Vassos.

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52 illustrations

An armoured figure stands within a canopied vehicle above two opposed sphinxes. — Pamela Colman Smith
An armoured figure stands within a canopied vehicle above two opposed sphinxes.
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination

Two standing poets step carefully through a dense company of figures lying face down. The ledge recedes beside a steep, dark drop. — Gustave Doré
Two standing poets step carefully through a dense company of figures lying face down.
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante

An elongated reclining body extends a hand towards a small standing figure. — Harry Clarke
An elongated reclining body extends a hand towards a small standing figure.
Faust

A kneeling woman gathers stalks at the edge of a group of workers in a broad field. — Gustave Doré
A kneeling woman gathers stalks at the edge of a group of workers in a broad field.
The Bible Gallery

Several small Egyptian-style figures occupy an elongated oval enclosure beneath the surrounding text. — Illustrator not identified
A standing Egyptian-style figure faces a small altar, a recumbent lion-like form and a vertical field of signs within an elongated oval.
Morals and Dogma

A frontal child stands upon two crocodiles and grasps long serpents and smaller animals. — K. Watkins (reproduction)
A frontal child stands upon two crocodiles and grasps long serpents and smaller animals.
The Origin and Evolution of Freemasonry

A crowded boat rises among broken waves while an upright figure stands within it beneath a wide and troubled night sky. — Gustave Doré
A crowded boat rises among broken waves while an upright figure stands within it beneath a wide and troubled night sky.
The Bible Gallery

A fish-clad standing figure appears beside an oval enclosing a smaller upright form. — Illustrator not identified
A fish-clad standing figure appears beside an oval enclosing a smaller upright form.
The Origin and Evolution of Freemasonry

A robed figure stands upon the surface of the water before a small boat, while waves spread between the solitary body and its watching occupants. — Gustave Doré
A robed figure stands upon the surface of the water before a small boat, while waves spread between the solitary body and its watching occupants.
The Bible Gallery

A seated robed figure speaks with a woman carrying a vessel beside a stone well, while palms and a distant town rise behind the meeting. — Gustave Doré
A seated robed figure speaks with a woman carrying a vessel beside a stone well, while palms and a distant town rise behind the meeting.
The Bible Gallery

A standing figure raises an arm upon a rocky shore while people struggle out of the water and the broken vessel remains visible beyond. — Gustave Doré
A standing figure raises an arm upon a rocky shore while people struggle out of the water and the broken vessel remains visible beyond.
The Bible Gallery

A dark standing image occupies a narrow doorway framed by carved borders and small surrounding figures. — Photographer not identified
A dark standing image occupies a narrow doorway framed by carved borders and small surrounding figures.
The Sun and the Serpent

A slender standing figure raises one hand beneath a tall head ornament. — Artist not recorded
A slender standing figure raises one hand beneath a tall head ornament.
Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt

Two exceptionally tall parallel plumes rise above a standing figure whose arm bends forward. — Artist not recorded
Two exceptionally tall parallel plumes rise above a standing figure whose arm bends forward.
Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt

Three ankh forms open a numbered arrangement that also includes a long sistrum, small standing deity figures and simple geometric pendants. — William Thomas Pavitt (signed illustration)
Three ankh forms open a numbered arrangement that also includes a long sistrum, small standing deity figures and simple geometric pendants.
The Book of Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal Gems

A winged figure sits upon a rocky shelf under a densely worked canopy, overlooking a small standing person deeper in the wood. — Gustave Doré
A winged figure sits upon a rocky shelf under a densely worked canopy, overlooking a small standing person deeper in the wood.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A woman stands facing a robed traveller within a quiet stand of tall, slender trees. — Gustave Doré
A woman stands facing a robed traveller within a quiet stand of tall, slender trees.
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante

A vast winged shape emerges from countless luminous bodies above two small standing observers upon clouds. — Gustave Doré
A vast winged shape emerges from countless luminous bodies above two small standing observers upon clouds.
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante

A woman's face and shoulders emerge among low rocks beside a small cascade and a solitary tree. — Nanda Lal Bose
A woman's face and shoulders emerge among low rocks beside a small cascade and a solitary tree.
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists

A standing figure holds a branching form above a narrow platform, with a bird, vessels and other small objects below. — Illustrator not identified
A standing figure holds a branching form above a narrow platform, with a bird, vessels and other small objects below.
The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses

Pink and orange letters rise through curling stems and blue sky. — William Blake
Pink and orange letters rise through curling stems and blue sky.
The Book of Thel

A small child flies through a blue upper field towards a standing woman with open arms. — William Blake
A small child flies through a blue upper field towards a standing woman with open arms.
The Book of Thel

A small standing figure is wrapped in a long, heavily patterned garment. — Illustrator not identified
A small standing figure is wrapped in a long, heavily patterned garment.
Ancient Magic, Magnetism and Psychic Forces

Several arms extend from a decorated standing figure, each holding or displaying an object. — Illustrator not identified
Several arms extend from a decorated standing figure, each holding or displaying an object.
Ancient Magic, Magnetism and Psychic Forces

A seated man and woman lean together beneath a small two-headed figure standing on raised ground. — Matthaeus Merian
A seated man and woman lean together beneath a small two-headed figure standing on raised ground.
Atalanta Fugiens

A globe with spread wings appears above a broad winged emblem with a central star-like form. — Illustrator not identified
A globe with spread wings appears above a broad winged emblem with a central star-like form.
Oahspe: A New Bible

Several rectangular impressions show small standing figures, animals and seated deities in horizontal scenes. — Illustrator not identified
Several rectangular impressions show small standing figures, animals and seated deities in horizontal scenes.
Amulets and Superstitions

A standing figure extends both arms inside a circle, square and large triangle. — Illustrator not identified
A standing figure extends both arms inside a circle, square and large triangle.
The Real History of the Rosicrucians

A large standing figure raises both hands and spreads its legs while smaller circular and skeletal forms trace the limbs. — Illustrator not identified
A large standing figure raises both hands and spreads its legs while smaller circular and skeletal forms trace the limbs.
Lavius Egyptus: Lectures in the Pythagorean Senate, in the Temple of the Oracle of Dodona

Two small standing figures appear within a narrow architectural niche beneath an immense fierce carved face. — Maker or photographer not identified
Two small standing figures appear within a narrow architectural niche beneath an immense fierce carved face.
The Phoenix

A standing human figure is enclosed by a broad oval field of dense curved lines. — Illustrator not identified
A standing human figure is enclosed by a broad oval field of dense curved lines.
The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception

A standing man extends both arms across a square frame intersected by diagonal lines. — Illustrator not identified
A standing man extends both arms across a square frame intersected by diagonal lines.
Occultism Simplified, or The Mystic Thesaurus

A rear view of a standing figure carries two small shaded patches along one side of the back. — Illustrator not identified
A rear view of a standing figure carries two small shaded patches along one side of the back.
The Human Atmosphere

Small crown forms surround an oval medallion containing a standing figure. — Illustrator not identified
Crown-like forms surround a large oval medallion with a standing figure in Plate VII.
Francis Bacon and His Secret Society

Two rectangular groups show standing figures beside architectural or ladder-like forms. — Illustrator not identified
Two rectangular groups show standing figures beside architectural or ladder-like forms.
The Chaldean Account of Genesis

A long fish skin covers the back of a standing figure, its open head rising over the human face. — Illustrator not identified
A long fish skin covers the back of a standing figure, its open head rising over the human face.
The Chaldean Account of Genesis

Standing figures fill the upper compartment of a dark rectangular plaque, with a larger seated figure and smaller attendants below. — Illustrator not identified
Standing figures fill the upper compartment of a dark rectangular plaque, with a larger seated figure and smaller attendants below.
The Indo-Sumerian Seals Deciphered

Standing worshippers face an elevated seated figure beside a small fire in a shaded outdoor setting. — Illustrator not identified
Standing worshippers face an elevated seated figure beside a small fire in a shaded outdoor setting.
The Indo-Sumerian Seals Deciphered

Looped and pointed tools are arranged above a jointed support for a standing figure. — Illustrator not identified
Looped and pointed tools are arranged above a jointed support for a standing figure.
Anatomy in Art

A seated figure raises one hand while a dark-clothed watcher leans close behind. — Austin Osman Spare
A seated figure raises one hand while a dark-clothed watcher leans close behind.
The Book of Pleasure

A large oval contains a standing figure within a long crescent-shaped vessel, with animal-like heads at its ends. — Illustrator not identified
A large oval contains a standing figure within a long crescent-shaped vessel, with animal-like heads at its ends.
The Gnostics and Their Remains, Ancient and Mediaeval

An animal-headed standing figure raises sceptres near the centre while serpents and smaller deities fill the surrounding gems. — Illustrator not identified
An animal-headed standing figure raises sceptres near the centre while serpents and smaller deities fill the surrounding gems.
The Gnostics and Their Remains, Ancient and Mediaeval

A deeply modelled face fills the upper centre above a round seal bearing a standing female figure. — Illustrator not identified
A deeply modelled face fills the upper centre above a round seal bearing a standing female figure.
The Gnostics and Their Remains, Ancient and Mediaeval

A standing woman holds a long ritual object above two tall vessels while smaller figures cluster beside her. — Alexander King
A standing woman holds a long ritual object above two tall vessels while smaller figures cluster beside her.
The Magic Island

A small child holds tightly to a standing man while other figures occupy the low, crowded room. — Laurence Housman
A small child holds tightly to a standing man while other figures occupy the low, crowded room.
The Were-Wolf

A pale veiled figure stands beside a seated woman who covers her face with both hands. — Photographer not identified
A pale veiled figure stands beside a seated woman who covers her face with both hands.
Shadow Land

Two standing women carry ritual implements above smaller scenes of reclining and dancing figures. — A. L. Rawson
Two standing women carry ritual implements above smaller scenes of reclining and dancing figures.
The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries

Seated and standing figures occupy three separate horizontal groups. — A. L. Rawson
Seated and standing figures occupy three separate horizontal groups.
The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries

48 of 52 shown

Gallery: Historical Illustrations & Book Art | Lumitheca