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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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75 illustrations

A celestial carriage descends toward the house where the bamboo-cutter's adopted daughter, Kaguya, waits with her attendants. — Evelyn Paul
A celestial carriage descends toward the house where the bamboo-cutter's adopted daughter, Kaguya, waits with her attendants.
Myths and Legends of Japan

Two robed figures sit facing each other on low stools in an open, fenced space. — Illustrator not identified
Two robed figures sit facing each other on low stools in an open, fenced space.
Occult Japan; or, The Way of the Gods

Seated figures occupy a wooden interior before a small altar and hanging religious pictures. — Illustrator not identified
Seated figures occupy a wooden interior before a small altar and hanging religious pictures.
Occult Japan; or, The Way of the Gods

A man stands on a rock beside the water with his hands brought together, while companions sit and stand on the stony bank behind him. — Illustrator not identified
A man stands on a rock beside the water with his hands brought together, while companions sit and stand on the stony bank behind him.
Occult Japan; or, The Way of the Gods

A line of pilgrims climbs diagonally across a rocky slope beneath a pale sky. — Illustrator not identified
A line of pilgrims climbs diagonally across a rocky slope beneath a pale sky.
Occult Japan; or, The Way of the Gods

A robed figure rises through a bright bank of cloud while another leans back below with one arm raised. — Gustave Doré
A robed figure rises through a bright bank of cloud while another leans back below with one arm raised.
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 broad roof shelters an elevated open-sided temple beyond a quiet courtyard and low wall. — Photographer not identified
A broad roof shelters an elevated open-sided temple beyond a quiet courtyard and low wall.
The Sun and the Serpent

A frontal female figure holds her hands near the chest beneath a broad disc framed by long curved horns. — Artist not recorded
A frontal female figure holds her hands near the chest beneath a broad disc framed by long curved horns.
Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt

A standing figure holds its hands before the upper body above a broad lower torso and rectangular support. — Artist not recorded
A standing figure holds its hands before the upper body above a broad lower torso and rectangular support.
Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt

A crowned woman sits upon a large peacock, holding a long musical instrument while an attendant raises a small flag beside her. — Illustrator not identified
A crowned woman sits upon a large peacock, holding a long musical instrument while an attendant raises a small flag beside her.
Ancient Symbol Worship: Influence of the Phallic Idea in the Religions of Antiquity

Two travellers scramble among immense angular rocks beneath a pale sky. — Gustave Doré
Two travellers scramble among immense angular rocks beneath a pale sky.
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante

Several bodies rise or turn within a narrow curling fire, with a robed traveller standing nearby in the dark rocky setting. — Gustave Doré
Several bodies rise or turn within a narrow curling fire, with a robed traveller standing nearby in the dark rocky setting.
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante

A horned stone figure leans over a parapet with its chin held between its hands. — Illustrator not identified
A horned stone figure leans over a parapet with its chin held between its hands.
Magic: Black and White Charms and Counter Charms

A slender outlined shaft stands upon a pedestal and a stepped base, with measurements set beside their different widths and heights. — Illustrator not identified
A slender outlined shaft stands upon a pedestal and a stepped base, with measurements set beside their different widths and heights.
The Obelisk and Freemasonry

Egyptian figures fill a long sequence of wall surfaces that turn in and out of a chamber. — Illustrator not identified
Egyptian figures fill a long sequence of wall surfaces that turn in and out of a chamber.
The Obelisk and Freemasonry

A company of centaurs carries raised bows and arrows along a rocky bank while small human heads emerge from the dark river behind them. — Gustave Doré
A company of centaurs carries raised bows and arrows along a rocky bank while small human heads emerge from the dark river behind them.
Dante's Inferno

Winged figures with long hooked weapons gather around an upright robed traveller on the edge of a dark hollow. — Gustave Doré
Winged figures with long hooked weapons gather around an upright robed traveller on the edge of a dark hollow.
Dante's Inferno

A section through a domed observatory reveals a long telescope upon a tall central support. — Illustrator not identified
A section through a domed observatory reveals a long telescope upon a tall central support.
The Story of the Heavens

Four tall bands of light and dark markings stand side by side against a black field. — Illustrator not identified
Four tall bands of light and dark markings stand side by side against a black field.
The Story of the Heavens

A dark circular disc interrupts an irregular pale corona against an almost black sky. — Illustrator not identified
A dark circular disc interrupts an irregular pale corona against an almost black sky.
The Story of the Heavens

Dark regions and narrow connecting markings cross a rectangular grid of longitude and latitude. — Giovanni Schiaparelli (map)
Dark regions and narrow connecting markings cross a rectangular grid of longitude and latitude.
The Story of the Heavens

Three labelled forms curve away from a shared point, contrasting a narrow upper arc with a broad fan of lower lines. — Illustrator not identified
Three labelled forms curve away from a shared point, contrasting a narrow upper arc with a broad fan of lower lines.
The Story of the Heavens

A circular track and radiating lines pass among figures, animals and named stars on an illustrated constellation map. — C. Piazzi Smyth
A circular track and radiating lines pass among figures, animals and named stars on an illustrated constellation map.
The Story of the Heavens

Two immense figures rise beside a circular stone enclosure while the much smaller travellers stand on the approach. — Gustave Doré
Two immense figures rise beside a circular stone enclosure while the much smaller travellers stand on the approach.
Dante's Inferno

Elizabeth I appears within an inscribed oval frame, wearing an elaborate ruff and strings of pearls. — Illustrator not identified
Elizabeth I appears within an inscribed oval frame, wearing an elaborate ruff and strings of pearls.
The Occult Review, Volume VII

A young man turns away from a princess at a doorway surrounded by fantastic carved figures. — Kay Nielsen
A young man turns away from a princess at a doorway surrounded by fantastic carved figures.
East of the Sun and West of the Moon

A large spotted salamander lies calmly among sweeping flames and billowing smoke. — Matthaeus Merian
A large spotted salamander lies calmly among sweeping flames and billowing smoke.
Atalanta Fugiens

A seated man leans back on a folding chair while small crawling forms gather near his feet. — Austin Osman Spare
A seated man leans back on a folding chair while small crawling forms gather near his feet.
Earth Inferno

Several haloed figures stand closely together above a bowed armoured man. — S. H. Sime
Several haloed figures stand closely together above a bowed armoured man.
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories

An armoured warrior strides forward with a great sword while a broad banner streams above him. — S. H. Sime
An armoured warrior strides forward with a great sword while a broad banner streams above him.
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories

A small animal leans over the top of a deep well while another stands far below near the water. — Jean de Bosschère
A small animal leans over the top of a deep well while another stands far below near the water.
Beasts and Men

A broad rounded capital rises above a narrow decorated column. — Illustrator not identified
A broad rounded capital rises above a narrow decorated column.
The Hidden Life in Freemasonry

A mounted youth holds a long spear as his horse steps beside a tall tree hung with leaves. — Willy Pogány
A mounted youth holds a long spear as his horse steps beside a tall tree hung with leaves.
Parsifal

A standing figure in a veil and bright clothing wears many necklaces, forehead ornaments and bracelets. — Photographer not identified
A standing figure in a veil and bright clothing wears many necklaces, forehead ornaments and bracelets.
The Magic of Jewels and Charms

Birds and small animals inhabit an intricate field of curling foliage. — Illustrator not identified
Birds and small animals inhabit an intricate field of curling foliage.
Needlework as Art

Large flowers, lobed leaves and swelling seed-like forms interlock across a pale textile ground. — Illustrator not identified
Large flowers, lobed leaves and swelling seed-like forms interlock across a pale textile ground.
Needlework as Art

A bowed ruler sits on a richly decorated throne within a palace crowded with towers and hanging forms. — S. H. Sime
A bowed ruler sits on a richly decorated throne within a palace crowded with towers and hanging forms.
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories

A pale robed figure stands beneath suspended lamps and elaborate architectural forms. — S. H. Sime
A pale robed figure stands beneath suspended lamps and elaborate architectural forms.
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories

A dark human figure hangs in chains high above the ground. — S. H. Sime
A dark human figure hangs in chains high above the ground.
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories

A pale youth turns within the broad star-covered robe of a much larger crowned figure. — S. H. Sime
A pale youth turns within the broad star-covered robe of a much larger crowned figure.
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories

A dense mass of round towers and battlements rises from a dark foreground. — S. H. Sime
A dense mass of round towers and battlements rises from a dark foreground.
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories

A small radiant flower-like form glows beside a dark valley beneath an extravagant field of stars. — S. H. Sime
A small radiant flower-like form glows beside a dark valley beneath an extravagant field of stars.
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories

A half-draped figure raises one arm beneath a dark canopy of trees. — Aubrey Beardsley
A half-draped figure raises one arm beneath a dark canopy of trees.
Under the Hill and Other Essays in Prose and Verse

Thin pale figures climb, reach and recline across a sharply divided stairwell. — Wallace Smith
Thin pale figures climb, reach and recline across a sharply divided stairwell.
Fantazius Mallare: A Mysterious Oath

Dark birds perch among curling branches above a pale seated figure and a low animal-like body. — Austin Osman Spare
Dark birds perch among curling branches above a pale seated figure and a low animal-like body.
The Book of Pleasure

A dark-haired woman holds a single white flower beside a long trailing veil. — Edmund Dulac
A dark-haired woman holds a single white flower beside a long trailing veil.
Edmund Dulac's Picture-Book for the French Red Cross

A gigantic bearded face looks down above two much smaller travellers. — E. Boyd Smith
A gigantic bearded face looks down above two much smaller travellers.
In the Days of Giants

48 of 75 shown

Gallery: Historical Illustrations & Book Art | Lumitheca