Of the Decorative Illustration of Books Old and New: 3rd ed.Crane, Walter
History
Of the Decorative Illustration of Books Old and New: 3rd ed.
Crane, Walter
Book ornamentation -- History; Illumination of books and manuscripts; Illustrated books -- Bibliography; Illustration of books
Mr. R. Spence shows considerable vigour and originality. He distinguished
himself first by some pen drawings which won the gold medal at the
National Competitions at South Kensington, in which a romantic feeling
and dramatic force was shown in designs of mediæval battles, expressed in
forcible way, consistent with good line and effect in black and white.
His design of the Legend of St. Cuthbert in "The Quarto" is perhaps the
most striking thing he has done. I am enabled to print one of his
characteristic designs of battles.
[Illustration: AUBREY BEARDSLEY.
FROM THE "MORTE D'ARTHUR." (J. M. DENT AND CO.)]
Mr. A. Jones also distinguished himself about the same time as Mr. Spence
in the National Competition, and showed some dramatic and romantic
feeling. The design given shows a more ornamental side.
[Illustration: AUBREY BEARDSLEY.
FROM THE "MORTE D'ARTHUR." (DENT.)]
Mr. William Strang, who has made his mark in etching as a medium for
designs full of strong character and weird imagination, also shows in his
processed pen drawings vigorous line and perception of decorative value,
as in the designs to "Munchausen," two of which are here reproduced.
[Sidenote: THE EVERGREEN.]
The publication of "The Evergreen" by Patrick Geddes and his colleagues
at Edinburgh has introduced several black and white designers of force
and character--Mr. Robert Burns and Mr. John Duncan, for instance, more
particularly distinguishing themselves for decorative treatment in which
one may see the influences of much fresh inspiration from Nature.
[Illustration: AUBREY BEARDSLEY.
FROM THE "MORTE D'ARTHUR." (DENT.)]
[Sidenote: CONTEMPORARY ILLUSTRATORS.]
Miss Mary Sargant Florence shows power and decorative feeling in her
outline designs to "The Crystal Ball." Mr. Granville Fell must be named
among the newer school of decorative illustrators; and Mr. Paul
Woodroffe, who also shows much facility of design and feeling for old
English life in his books of Nursery Rhymes; his recent work shows much
refinement of drawing and feeling.
Miss Alice B. Woodward ought also to be named for her clever treatment of
mediæval life in black and white.
More recently, perhaps the most remarkable work in book illustration has
been that of Mr. E. J. Sullivan, whose powerful designs to Carlyle's
"Sartor Resartus" are full of vigour and character.
Force and character, again, seem the leading qualities in the striking
work of another of our recent designers in black and white, Mr.
Nicholson, who also engraves his own work.
[Illustration: EDMUND J. SULLIVAN.
FROM "SARTOR RESARTUS." (BELL.)]
Mr. Gordon Craig adds printing to the crafts of black and white design
and engraving, and has a distinctive feeling of his own.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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