Paintings and illustrations by Gustave Doré and Walter Crane, two of the 19th century’s major illustrators, and both accomplished painters.
illustration
Telling a story in a standalone painting, and telling one in illustrations, are very different. Examples by Masaccio, Poussin, Crane, Rackham, and Hogarth.
Illustrated editions of the epic became most popular towards the end of the 19th century, when Walter Crane created the finest.
Two painters: one married Charles Dickens’ daughter and stopped painting, the other became a prolific illustrator, including books by Dickens’ grand-daughter. The Victorian Web at work.
Best known as the most influential children’s book illustrator, he painted several narrative paintings too.
Long forgotten now, panoramas were hugely popular in the 1800s, and some were strongly narrative.
Some paintings have figures and action which goes beyond staffage, and provides narrative, meaning, or puzzles.
Who could resist the urge to pick this exquisite little book up and browse through its painted pages?
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