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.
54 illustrations
A woman in a white dress and rose-coloured drapery stretches her hands towards a star in a deep blue sky.
Two women stand at the edge of a dark pool enclosed by pale stonework and flowering trees.
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 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.
A young woman leans into an embrace beneath a canopy of flowers.
Two richly dressed women sit in a wooded clearing while a plainly dressed attendant stands behind them.
A queen faces forward between lion armrests, holding a sunflower and a staff, with a black cat below.
An armoured rider on a rearing horse carries a leafy wand across a sparse landscape with pyramidal hills.
A queen seated beside water studies an ornate covered cup, with carved figures on her tall throne.
A crowned queen sits in profile with one hand extended and an upright sword beside her patterned throne.
An armoured rider charges left with a raised sword, a wind-blown plume and a decorated horse.
A crowned queen looks down at a pentacle held in her lap beneath a leafy arch, with a rabbit beside the throne.
The name Rizzio dominates a framed design with French phrases and thistle-like corner ornaments.
A bearded John Dee wears a close cap and fur-trimmed clothing while holding a globe.
Elizabeth I appears within an inscribed oval frame, wearing an elaborate ruff and strings of pearls.
Queen Victoria appears in a small portrait wearing a crown and ceremonial dress.
Two richly robed figures face one another beneath a wide architectural arch.
Armed and cloaked figures raise their arms and weapons towards a vast pale wave beyond an uneven landscape.
A pale woman stands among three white polar bears beneath a dark starry sky.
A young man lies on a purple carpet beside a seated woman in gold, blue and violet garments.
A pale bird perches beside a sleeping youth on a rocky ledge beneath a star-filled sky.
Bright transparent spheres drift upwards between great dark rock faces.
A young woman plays a violin before a broad mottled tree, surrounded by small blue flowers.
A crowned king in orange and a dark patterned cloak sits on a white stepped terrace.
A standing woman in a pale dress holds a long object beside another woman seated near a woven screen.
A woman in a long dark gown holds a fine leash attached to a black panther.
Two figures embrace beside an ornate seat while a great pattern of illuminated windows rises behind them.
A white-robed woman stands high above a crowd of raised shields, spears and faces.
A dark-bearded ruler in pale robes sits on a broad circular seat before a small group of attendants.
A woman in an elaborate white headdress stands with a long pale train curving behind her.
A tall pale figure stands among dark trees beneath monkeys gathered in the upper branches.
Elaborately carved roof tiers rise above a shaded entrance and several great rounded drums.
A group gathers beside small boats on a wooded shore while one figure raises a long leaf.
A projecting stone head with an open angular mouth and elaborate carved ornament rests against a ruined wall.
A seated stone figure with a broad headdress and circular ear ornaments forms an architectural support.
Relief panels and geometric stonework surround a dark rectangular entrance.
A carved figure with large circular ear ornaments and a broad headdress holds both arms beside the head.
A dark rounded vessel with two small handles rises into an exceptionally long narrow neck.
Three horizontal registers combine seated figures, animals and dense groups of glyphs.
Stacked registers of figures, vessels and glyph blocks occupy a narrow manuscript page.
The weathered head and long forepaws of the Sphinx stand before the pyramids and surrounding desert.
A spotted feline lies with its head lowered beside a large rectangular stone amid low vegetation.
A woman with short curled hair wears a light gathered dress with flowers at the shoulder.
A crested warrior carries a round shield, a long weapon and a cluster of feathered ornaments.
A low rectangular structure with decorated side panels rises behind a central flight of steps.
A stylised human profile emerges from curling stone ornament on a wall.
48 of 54 shown