Discover historical illustrations by subject, artist and book.
Creation and rebellion in Blake’s illuminated plates.
Norwegian fairy tales illustrated by Kay Nielsen.
Four colour drawings from a 1908 Gnostic text.
From the dark wood to Paradise with Gustave Doré.
Ethelwynne Quail’s visions of the spirit world.
Art Deco studies of fear by John Vassos.
639 illustrations
A narrow stair coils upward through a black field scattered with tiny stars.
A pale woman in a red garment occupies a narrow central panel surrounded by curling peacock feathers.
Two figures lean towards one another within a great dark arch opening onto a deep blue night.
A woman with her back towards the viewer holds both hands near her face while two men watch in a furnished room.
A richly dressed young woman looks down towards a pool enclosed by slender trees.
Two slender figures stand at the edge of a broad black curve and look towards a great face in the pale moon.
A young woman stands at a decorated doorway beneath a bright round moon.
A ring of changing moons surrounds a four-part interior containing small symbolic figures.
Two small figures hurry across an ornate bridge suspended above a pale landscape.
A kneeling woman pours water from two vessels, one into a pool and one upon the ground.
A pale woman stands at the foot of a blue palace half concealed by cascading foliage.
A cloaked figure steps into a dark arched doorway with a bright lamp held low at his side.
Tall trunks fill the narrow image with closely repeated vertical lines.
An armoured knight stands in a small ornate boat drawn across the river by a white swan.
Broad layered petals rise from a dark water surface surrounded by leaves.
Mounted warriors surge across an open slope with long lances raised.
Two brightly dressed young figures dance together at the edge of a green woodland.
Edward Kelley and a companion stand inside a ritual circle while a shrouded figure appears in a moonlit churchyard.
A young woman leans towards a richly dressed swineherd while attendants gather around them.
Large pale swans crowd the woodland scene around a woman with flowing hair and clothes.
A long-haired woman pauses beside a young man sleeping beneath a tree.
A woman lifts one arm above a seated prince whose ankles and wrists are restrained.
A richly armoured rider reaches upward towards a princess leaning from a window.
A young woman extends her hand towards a crowned head within a squat iron stove.
An astonished young man approaches a richly dressed woman standing at a flower-covered doorway.
Seven serpentine heads extend across a garden towards a group of small human figures.
A great dark-winged figure stands before a luminous opening containing a kneeling woman.
A richly dressed figure recoils beside a fountain while a great face seems to emerge above the water.
A bent, darkly dressed woman climbs over the rail of a ship.
A man raises a sword above a heavy chain disappearing into an opening in the floor.
A long-haired woman rises from water filled with reeds and broad leaves.
A young woman raises one hand between a wild-haired flying figure and a crouching prince.
A hooded old woman leans on a stick beside a queen in a light gown.
A crowned king holds a large white duck against his chest.
Madhusadan returns to the cremation place of Madhuvati, called Sweet Jasmine, carrying a stolen book of life-restoring knowledge.
A young man braces himself against a tree while holding a great pale swan.
A seated young woman is surrounded by richly dressed companions in a garden.
A crowned young man extends his hands above a great fish dropping towards the water.
A young man grasps the beard of a long-robed magician and pulls him violently forward.
A standing figure raises a wand above a table carrying a cup, blade, staff and pentacle.
A young man bends forward and empties a sack towards the flames at the foot of a tree.
A veiled seated woman occupies the space between a dark and a light pillar, with a crescent near her feet.
A young woman leans into an embrace beneath a canopy of flowers.
A crowned woman sits beside a shield carrying the sign of Venus while grain and foliage fill the foreground.
A crowned ruler looks down from a high balcony over ranks of armed men.
A bearded crowned figure sits upon a severe throne decorated with ram heads, holding a staff and an orb.
A pale young woman raises her arms beneath dark tree trunks.
A crowned religious figure sits between two pillars, raising one hand above two kneeling attendants.
48 of 639 shown
27 plates
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4 plates
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10 plates
10 plates
