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.
47 illustrations
An armoured rider on a rearing horse carries a leafy wand across a sparse landscape with pyramidal hills.
Small figures cluster within a compact woodland ornament beneath the contents list.
Kar’s Kali emerges from darkness through the outlines of her arms, her face and the warm accents of ornaments and clothing.
A crowned queen sits in profile with one hand extended and an upright sword beside her patterned throne.
A craft worker stands on a bench beneath a vaulted arch while two other figures look upward toward the work.
A long-haired figure bends beside a candle taller than the small people gathered around its stand.
Four sharply contrasted bodies join hands across a narrow rectangular field.
A four-armed figure stands on an oval base between a horned animal and a striped feline.
An elaborate lamp carries a triangular crown of flames and branching side lights above a decorated base.
A tailed, narrow-limbed figure leans on a staff before a black circle.
A stretched animal body and an elongated head run diagonally across the page.
A long patterned creature curves over a smaller bowed figure, crossing the body in a loop.
A young woman appears within a spreading patterned garment, with a curved object to the right and flowing ornaments along the base.
A cloaked figure lies face down beneath an enormous curved blade.
A narrow human face appears within a tall curling body above the word END.
Curling leaves and shell-like forms surround an oval central shield with vertical hatching.
Scales hang within a decorated arch above an open landscape.
A standing chief wears an immense feathered headdress with curved horns and carries a spear hung with further ornaments.
The name Rizzio dominates a framed design with French phrases and thistle-like corner ornaments.
Twelve numbered zodiac designs combine animals, figures and objects with polished gem settings.
Two elongated figures mirror one another beneath the author’s name.
Three richly dressed women move beneath an ornamental ceiling, their lifted hands and flowing ribbons crossing the shallow interior.
A seated solar figure raises one arm while a smaller woman reaches towards him from below.
A seated Shiva lifts a small dark vessel to his mouth while his other hand rests across his folded legs.
A seated woman raises one hand beneath a large hooded serpent that arches around her head and shoulders.
A seated woman cradles a pale bird while turning her face towards it.
An ornamental cross occupies the centre of a wheel encircled by letters, numbers and smaller signs.
A small seated sage printed in red occupies the centre of an elaborate black ornamental frame.
A young woman stands beside a richly dressed man under patterned hangings.
A pale woman stands beside a tall decorated bed while richly robed figures gather at the left.
A mounted warrior raises his weapon above a dense field of round shields and crossed spears.
An immense rounded train covered in peacock-eye patterns occupies the lower half of the scene.
A slender pale figure rises from a broad black garment layered with pointed panels and small star-like ornaments.
A dark-haired figure bends over a long pale body stretched across the black foreground.
A bare-breasted dancer floats above a dark lower field scattered with curling ornaments.
A slender visitor in an elaborate ruff stands with a fan and a long cane among fantastic flowers.
A richly dressed figure stands behind a broad patterned curtain.
A pale standing figure rises above a dark fallen warrior within a symmetrical ornamental design.
A tall dark figure spreads great feathered wings while holding a long sword vertically.
A reclining woman and a small group of grotesque attendants occupy the foot of an immense golden field.
Large two-handled vessels carry initials and branching finials in Plate XIX.
A thin stream of smoke rises from a small lamp and expands into a rounded frame containing a woman’s profile.
A haloed Saint John holds a pen and book within a tall border filled with interlace and geometric compartments.
A large seated figure wears a decorated ceremonial costume covered with round ornaments.
A brilliant long-tailed bird curves above a seated princess in a dark ornamental enclosure.
A young woman in profile wears a light draped garment and a small star-shaped hair ornament.
Steep steps climb towards a vast building with towers, domes and richly ornamented walls.
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