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.
28 illustrations
A central ridge separates repeated black spirals and broad pale curves across an oval face.
Round reflective eyes and exposed teeth dominate a skull-shaped face crossed by contrasting mosaic bands.
Deep creases draw the face around downturned eyes and an open mouth.
A narrow orange zigzag struggles for prominence between broad wavering grey bands in this compact horizontal plate.
A horned architectural frame encloses two grotesque figures facing one another above the word Preface.
A richly patterned robe spreads around a masked theatrical figure holding a long weapon against a deep blue ground.
Brightly dressed performers gather around an exuberant central title while small winged figures cross the open ground.
A woman with a dark bob and spotted clothing occupies one side of a tall theatrical bill.
A woman raises one arm and extends one leg while balancing on a dark horse.
Two tall curved horns rise above an elongated face with small round eyes and a narrow muzzle.
Broad pale lobes frame two enormous concentric eyes above a projecting mouth.
Two large upright ears flank a narrow face with a prominent vertical ridge.
An elongated painted creature carries a dorsal fin and a projecting tail joined by visible cords.
A tall crest rises above staring eyes and an open mouth crowded with pointed teeth.
A youthful face rises above a patterned collar beneath a rounded head covering.
A narrow vertical structure combines a small face, patterned panels and long projecting points.
Several faces meet beneath a high irregular crest pierced by many small openings.
A rounded head is flanked by two immense ears above a long narrow trunk.
A profile figure wears an enormous feathered headdress and densely patterned clothing.
Dark curved patterns divide a pale oval face around sharply cut eyes and an open mouth.
A long pointed face carries a tall forked antler and a small dark circular eye.
A pale cylindrical face carries a long sweeping horn and a dark fringe of vertical marks.
A broad pale mask has deeply incised forehead lines, dark eye openings and an enormous open mouth.
A pale smiling face sits beneath a crown of small discs, flowers and hanging ornaments.
A broad face opens into a huge dark mouth framed by curved fangs and densely worked ornament.
A tall pointed crest rises above a broad horizontal band with circular eyes.
A large seated figure wears a decorated ceremonial costume covered with round ornaments.
A company of elaborately dressed men and women fills a curtained interior.
27 plates
22 plates
4 plates
24 plates
10 plates
10 plates
