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Discover historical illustrations by subject, artist and book.

Visual journeys

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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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200 illustrations

A woman in a long pale dress with a dark spotted train stands before patterned curtains. — Aubrey Beardsley
A woman in a long pale dress with a dark spotted train stands before patterned curtains.
The Modern Poster

Two robed men stand within a ritual circle before a pale figure in a moonlit churchyard. — Edward Kelley and a companion stand inside a ritual circle while a shrouded figure appears in a moonlit churchyard.
The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts

A small red fishing sloop pitches beside a breaking wave beneath a dark, snow-filled sky. — John A. Williams
A fierce snowstorm drives Olaf Jansen and his father northward among the icebergs, threatening to capsize their fishing sloop.
The Smoky God

Two sailors watch a dim red disc on the horizon from the deck of their sloop. — John A. Williams
Olaf and his father notice a persistent dull-red light ahead of their sloop and first take it for a mock sun or mirage.
The Smoky God

Towering sailors in patterned robes look down at two much smaller visitors beside coiled rope. — John A. Williams
A boat from an enormous ship brings six sailors to Olaf Jansen's becalmed sloop near a forested riverbank.
The Smoky God

Two small travellers stand before a towering robed ruler seated on an ornate throne. — John A. Williams
Olaf and his father are received by the Great High Priest, ruler of the inner continent, in a hall described as gold and jewels.
The Smoky God

Elephants move through a sunlit forest, one enormous animal dominating the foreground. — John A. Williams
During their tour of the inner continent, the travellers encounter a vast herd of elephants tearing branches from giant trees.
The Smoky God

A small sailing boat approaches towering walls of ice beneath an overhanging iceberg. — John A. Williams
On the attempted return through the southern opening of Emerson's inner world, Olaf's father warns of an immense white obstruction ahead.
The Smoky God

A host of armed winged figures falls through clouds beneath a bright opening. — Gustave Doré
A foreground warrior plunges headlong among falling bodies, spread wings and diagonal weapons.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A winged figure stands above a burning landscape beside a seated companion. — Gustave Doré
The upright rebel dominates a landscape of flame and broken rock, while a second figure remains lower beside him.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A huge squid extends its arms beside a ship while figures gather along the rail. — Illustrator not identified
A huge squid extends its arms beside a ship while figures gather along the rail.
Monsters of the Sea

An armed winged leader addresses a mass of figures across a rocky landscape. — Gustave Doré
The leader’s raised gesture gathers a dispersed company into an answering host.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

An immense serpent curls above rough water beside a sailing ship beneath moonlit clouds. — Illustrator not identified
An immense serpent curls above rough water beside a sailing ship beneath moonlit clouds.
Monsters of the Sea

A dense multitude of winged figures rises through clouds. — Gustave Doré
Overlapping wings and small bodies fill the air, so that the individual figures become the texture of a vast ascent.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A huge serpent arches above the water beside a full-rigged ship while a small boat approaches from the opposite side. — Illustrator not identified
A huge serpent arches above the water beside a full-rigged ship while a small boat approaches from the opposite side.
Monsters of the Sea

A ruler sits above a crowded assembly in a great pillared hall. — Gustave Doré
The throne and the converging architecture establish a centre of authority inside an enormous hall.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A long dark creature passes across the water below a ship’s stern as sailors lean over the rail. — Illustrator not identified
A long dark creature passes across the water below a ship’s stern as sailors lean over the rail.
Monsters of the Sea

A winged traveller confronts seated guardians in a dark rocky passage. — Gustave Doré
The standing traveller and the two guardians form a tense group at the threshold.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A long coiling creature wraps around a large whale at the water’s surface. — Illustrator not identified
A long coiling creature wraps around a large whale at the water’s surface.
Monsters of the Sea

A winged figure struggles among steep rocks and a turbulent void. — Gustave Doré
The figure’s limbs and wings work against a landscape that offers no stable road.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

An enormous many-armed creature grips the hull and rigging of a sailing ship beneath a dark, streaked sky. — Illustrator not identified
An enormous many-armed creature grips the hull and rigging of a sailing ship beneath a dark, streaked sky.
Monsters of the Sea

A bat-winged figure descends towards a distant round world through rays of light. — Gustave Doré
The dark wings cut across a luminous atmosphere, directing the eye towards the world beneath them.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A broad-bodied cuttlefish appears above two views of a more elongated squid. — Illustrator not identified
A broad-bodied cuttlefish appears above two views of a more elongated squid.
Monsters of the Sea

A winged figure stands against a rocky height with one hand behind his head. — Gustave Doré
The standing body leans back against the rock, one hand braced beside it and the other lifted behind the head.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

An octopus spreads long, curling arms towards two fish near the lower edge of the scene. — Illustrator not identified
An octopus spreads long, curling arms towards two fish near the lower edge of the scene.
Monsters of the Sea

A winged figure watches a lush garden from a shaded height among great trees. — Gustave Doré
The winged observer stands at the right beneath spreading branches, looking towards the garden below.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A squid’s head rests above a tall support while long arms and tentacles hang down into a circular vessel. — Illustrator not identified
A squid’s head rests above a tall support while long arms and tentacles hang down into a circular vessel.
Monsters of the Sea

Two figures sit near a stream within a wooded garden. — Gustave Doré
The two bodies rest within a landscape of water and foliage, making the garden a lived place rather than an empty emblem.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A large squid lies at the surface, its prominent eye surrounded by choppy, densely engraved water. — Illustrator not identified
A large squid lies at the surface, its prominent eye surrounded by choppy, densely engraved water.
Monsters of the Sea

Adam and Eve look towards a bright winged visitor in a shaded woodland. — Gustave Doré
The visitor appears as a bright figure beyond the shaded foreground, while the human pair turn towards the approaching shape.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A winged teacher raises a hand before a seated human couple. — Gustave Doré
The raised hand of the winged teacher gives the small group a clear direction of attention.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

An armoured angel strikes at a fallen winged opponent amid armed companions. — Gustave Doré
The central warrior lifts his weapon over an opponent who has dropped low on the clouds.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

Large reptiles occupy a shore beneath a cloud-filled sky and distant birds. — Gustave Doré
The foreground reptiles lie close to the water, their heavy bodies contrasting with the small birds in the sky.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A vast sea creature arches between rocky outcrops and spouts water. — Gustave Doré
The creature’s body stretches across the sea like a ridge of land, with its spout rising against the cloudy sky.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A bat-winged figure looks down at a serpent coiled on the ground. — Gustave Doré
The serpent’s dark coil lies directly beneath the bent figure, creating a quiet meeting between two sharply different bodies.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A standing man and a reclining woman grieve beneath immense tree trunks. — Gustave Doré
The two figures are separated by posture: one stands with arms raised towards his head, while the other leans back beside the roots.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

A hall fills with intertwined serpents beneath a distant throne. — Gustave Doré
Coiling bodies occupy the foreground and gather towards the throne, replacing the organised ranks seen in the earlier council with a tangled mass.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

Adam and Eve stand and sit among roots while an angel waits in the distance. — Gustave Doré
The human figures remain close to the great roots, while the angel waits farther along the dark route through the trees.
Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré

Seven circular emblems are arranged around a cross-shaped field of lettering. The central circle contains a radiating disk and an encircling serpent; the surrounding wheels contain figures, instruments, animal forms and inscriptions. A two-line caption closes the composition. — Artist not recorded
Seven circular emblems are arranged around a cross-shaped field of lettering.
Transcendental Magic

The framed map spans the Mediterranean and neighbouring lands, marking coastlines, rivers and numerous places. — Illustrator not identified
The framed map spans the Mediterranean and neighbouring lands, marking coastlines, rivers and numerous places.
The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar

A standing figure wears a divided breastpiece, layered robes and a wrapped headdress, carrying a vessel beside him. — Illustrator not identified
A standing figure wears a divided breastpiece, layered robes and a wrapped headdress, carrying a vessel beside him.
The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar

A broad palm frames an enclosed sanctuary and the tents of an encampment. — Illustrator not identified
A broad palm frames an enclosed sanctuary and the tents of an encampment.
The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar

Two winged figures face one another above a rectangular chest, their extended wings enclosing the space between them. — Illustrator not identified
Two winged figures face one another above a rectangular chest, their extended wings enclosing the space between them.
The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar

A standing elder lifts a vessel over the head of a kneeling man beside a wall and stone steps. — Illustrator not identified
A standing elder lifts a vessel over the head of a kneeling man beside a wall and stone steps.
The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar

Nested rectangular courts surround a central sanctuary in a lettered architectural plan. — Illustrator not identified
Nested rectangular courts surround a central sanctuary in a lettered architectural plan.
The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar

A richly dressed rider points across a crowded landscape while armed attendants follow behind. — Illustrator not identified
A richly dressed rider points across a crowded landscape while armed attendants follow behind.
The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar

Mounted warriors rise above a crowded field of spears, shields and fallen bodies. — Illustrator not identified
Mounted warriors rise above a crowded field of spears, shields and fallen bodies.
The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar

A veiled face emerges from a soft oval vignette, with folds of pale fabric framing the dark eyes. — Photographer not identified
A veiled face emerges from a soft oval vignette, with folds of pale fabric framing the dark eyes.
Talks with the Dead

48 of 200 shown

Gallery: Historical Illustrations & Book Art | Lumitheca