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Discover historical illustrations by subject, artist and book.

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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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238 illustrations

A richly dressed young woman looks down towards a pool enclosed by slender trees. — Kay Nielsen
A richly dressed young woman looks down towards a pool enclosed by slender trees.
East of the Sun and West of the Moon

A solar and lunar pair embraces near a cavern at the water’s edge. — Matthaeus Merian
A solar and lunar pair embraces near a cavern at the water’s edge.
Atalanta Fugiens

A woman in a green dress stands with a crowned man beside a dark pool beneath overhanging trees. — Edmund Dulac
Two women stand at the edge of a dark pool enclosed by pale stonework and flowering trees.
The Stealers of Light

A kneeling woman pours water from two vessels, one into a pool and one upon the ground. — Pamela Colman Smith
A kneeling woman pours water from two vessels, one into a pool and one upon the ground.
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination

A long fish-like body rises beside a many-tiered gate above curling waves. — Maker or photographer not identified
A long fish-like body rises beside a many-tiered gate above curling waves.
The Chinese Dragon

A kneeling traveller and a standing woman face several pale women appearing over clouds. — Gustave Doré
A kneeling traveller and a standing woman face several pale women appearing over clouds.
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante

Broad layered petals rise from a dark water surface surrounded by leaves. — Artist not recorded
Broad layered petals rise from a dark water surface surrounded by leaves.
Initiation and Its Results

Storm-driven water and ghostly warriors surround the boat carrying Yoshitsune and his companion Benkei. — Evelyn Paul
Storm-driven water and ghostly warriors surround the boat carrying Yoshitsune and his companion Benkei.
Myths and Legends of Japan

A pale figure stretches both arms across a dark blue and black illuminated page. — William Blake
The raised hands, streaming beard and bent legs of the white-haired figure are crossed by dark horizontal bands.
The Book of Urizen

Three vertical columns of geometric and calligraphic magical characters. — Twenty-seven numbered signs move from lines and letter-like forms to fire, water, animals and bodily emblems.
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

Hoori meets the sea god's daughter in a realm beneath the water. — Evelyn Paul
Hoori meets the sea god's daughter in a realm beneath the water.
Myths and Legends of Japan

A richly dressed figure recoils beside a fountain while a great face seems to emerge above the water. — Henry Justice Ford
A richly dressed figure recoils beside a fountain while a great face seems to emerge above the water.
The Yellow Fairy Book

A long-haired woman rises from water filled with reeds and broad leaves. — Henry Justice Ford
A long-haired woman rises from water filled with reeds and broad leaves.
The Yellow Fairy Book

A crowned young man extends his hands above a great fish dropping towards the water. — Henry Justice Ford
A crowned young man extends his hands above a great fish dropping towards the water.
The Yellow Fairy Book

A winged figure pours water between two cups while placing one foot upon land and one in a pool. — Pamela Colman Smith
A winged figure pours water between two cups while placing one foot upon land and one in a pool.
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination

A man stands on a rock beside the water with his hands brought together, while companions sit and stand on the stony bank behind him. — Illustrator not identified
A man stands on a rock beside the water with his hands brought together, while companions sit and stand on the stony bank behind him.
Occult Japan; or, The Way of the Gods

A moon with a human face hangs above two towers, two animals and a small creature rising from water. — Pamela Colman Smith
A moon with a human face hangs above two towers, two animals and a small creature rising from water.
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination

A winged figure sounds a trumpet above unclothed people rising from open rectangular enclosures. — Pamela Colman Smith
A winged figure sounds a trumpet above unclothed people rising from open rectangular enclosures.
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination

Venkatappa concentrates the building of the bridge into a scene of consultation on the rocky shore. — K. Venkatappa
Venkatappa concentrates the building of the bridge into a scene of consultation on the rocky shore.
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists

A long-haired woman stands in a boat at the edge of a moonlit lake, reaching towards a man who raises both hands. — T. H. Thomas
A long-haired woman stands in a boat at the edge of a moonlit lake, reaching towards a man who raises both hands.
British Goblins

A cloaked figure seen from behind stands among three staffs and looks across water toward small ships. — Pamela Colman Smith
A cloaked figure seen from behind stands among three staffs and looks across water toward small ships.
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination

Mazumdar gives the descent of Ganga the stillness of a close portrait. — Khitindra Nath Mazumdar
Mazumdar gives the descent of Ganga the stillness of a close portrait.
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists

A queen seated beside water studies an ornate covered cup, with carved figures on her tall throne. — Pamela Colman Smith
A queen seated beside water studies an ornate covered cup, with carved figures on her tall throne.
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination

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

A page beside water looks at a small fish rising from the cup held in one hand. — Pamela Colman Smith
A page beside water looks at a small fish rising from the cup held in one hand.
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination

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 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 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 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

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

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

A hand from a cloud supports a cup beneath a descending dove, with streams falling into lily-covered water. — Pamela Colman Smith
A hand from a cloud supports a cup beneath a descending dove, with streams falling into lily-covered water.
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination

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

On the shore a kneeling traveller faces a bearded elder while his companion stands behind him. The open water and pale sky set the three bodies apart. — Gustave Doré
On the shore a kneeling traveller faces a bearded elder while his companion stands behind him.
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante

A winged steersman rises over a close company of pale figures arriving across the water. Two travellers watch from the left, near reeds on the bank. — Gustave Doré
A winged steersman rises over a close company of pale figures arriving across the water.
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante

A long-haired woman leans into a stream beside reeds and a wooded bank, holding the traveller beneath the water. The broad current occupies the foreground. — Gustave Doré
A long-haired woman leans into a stream beside reeds and a wooded bank, holding the traveller beneath the water.
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante

A traveller bends down beside the stream while a seated guide and a group of women watch within a wooded clearing. Another figure waits farther back. — Gustave Doré
A traveller bends down beside the stream while a seated guide and a group of women watch within a wooded clearing.
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante

A crowded group clings to a rock as waves surround them; a large cat holds its young above the water nearby. — Gustave Doré
A crowded group clings to a rock as waves surround them; a large cat holds its young above the water nearby.
The Bible Gallery

A dense circular emblem combines figures, animals and geometric divisions in a single symbolic wheel. — Illustrator not identified
A divided circular wheel combines human and animal forms, small internal emblems and surrounding inscriptions.
The History of Magic

A young robed figure stands beside water and great stone structures, with other bodies receding behind him. — Gustave Doré
A young robed figure stands beside water and great stone structures, with other bodies receding behind him.
The Bible Gallery

A robed figure stands upon the surface of the water before a small boat, while waves spread between the solitary body and its watching occupants. — Gustave Doré
A robed figure stands upon the surface of the water before a small boat, while waves spread between the solitary body and its watching occupants.
The Bible Gallery

A seated robed figure speaks with a woman carrying a vessel beside a stone well, while palms and a distant town rise behind the meeting. — Gustave Doré
A seated robed figure speaks with a woman carrying a vessel beside a stone well, while palms and a distant town rise behind the meeting.
The Bible Gallery

A standing figure raises an arm upon a rocky shore while people struggle out of the water and the broken vessel remains visible beyond. — Gustave Doré
A standing figure raises an arm upon a rocky shore while people struggle out of the water and the broken vessel remains visible beyond.
The Bible Gallery

A woman holding a tall water vessel faces a kneeling elder beside stone steps. — Gustave Doré
A woman holding a tall water vessel faces a kneeling elder beside stone steps.
The Bible Gallery

A great plume spreads from a volcanic cone beneath angular streaks of lightning. — Illustrator not identified
A great plume spreads from a volcanic cone beneath angular streaks of lightning.
Atlantis: The Antediluvian World

48 of 238 shown

Gallery: Historical Illustrations & Book Art | Lumitheca