The Arthur Rackham Treasury: 86 Full-Color Illustrations (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) [Paperback]

Arthur Rackham (Author), Jeff A. Menges (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Dover Fine Art, History of Art | Publication Date: August 15, 2005

Magnificently reprinted from more than 25 rare early editions, these 86 illustrations include many plates that have not been reproduced in decades. They span Rackham's career — his landmark 1905 edition of Rip Van Winkle to masterworks such as Undine and A Midsummer Night's Dream and his final publication, Wind in the Willows, in 1939.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Dover Ed edition (August 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486446859
• ISBN-13: 978-0486446851
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Meanings of Enchantment!, November 18, 2007

By 

F. S. L'hoir (Irvine, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Arthur Rackham Treasury: 86 Full-Color Illustrations (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

I was introduced to Arthur Rackham's magical illustrations as a child via the old St. Nicholas children's magazines, and his pictures have lost none of their magic in the ensuing years. Rackham's pen-and-ink drawings are complemented by a muted palette of colors that transform the glossy pages into insubstantial doors that open into an enchanted world populated by slender butterfly-winged fairies, multitudes of elves and gnomes, and twisted anthropomorphic trees that capture a child's imagination, without being threatening. At the same time, the sharp angular faces of the children in his drawings suggest a subtle mischievous humor that prevents Rackham's illustrations from ever sinking into sentimentality.

Rackham's pen covered a wide range of subjects, from Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Tempest" by way of Kenneth Grahame's "Wind in the Willows", Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," and classical fairy tales, to Wagner's "Ring of the Niebelungen."

We are so lucky to have these beautifully reproduced Dover illustrations in a single book. They should be introduced to one's grandchildren so that their own imaginations may also take flight with the enchanting creatures of Arthur Rackham's world.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful,Timeless Illustrations, July 3, 2007

By 

Elizabeth Russell "Mermaid of Willow Lake" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Arthur Rackham Treasury: 86 Full-Color Illustrations (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

I love this book! I found that the introduction was helpful in placing each piece of art in context. The works themselves are gorgeous and enchanting. The book really shows the breadth of talent and subject matter Rackham mastered, as well as his superb use of composition and imagination. An excellent book for any collection, for children and adults alike.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rackham's work is quite magical!, June 16, 2011

By 

Zephyr "Zephyr" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Arthur Rackham Treasury: 86 Full-Color Illustrations (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

Length:: 0:53 Mins

I wasn't all that familiar with Arthur Rackham's works to be honest before I purchased this book. I have seen plenty of his art around in older children's books and different fantasy art compilations. I have quite an extensive collection of fairy (faery) and fantasy art books and I think that Arthur Rackham's Treasury was clearly missing from my collection. I was instantly in love with his old fashioned fairy tale illustrations and the muted color tones. I really like how Rachkham's art is somewhat creepy in some aspects, but also magical taking you inside the story behind each piece. It has the depth of each character portrayed in fairy tales in a very complex way. As someone else mentioned, the Alice in Wonderland illustration on the cover was what definitely sold me this book. As far as the quality of paper it was printed on goes, it is so- so. It is rather thin, reminding me of the paper that school textbooks are printed on. However, I was happy to read that I saved several trees with my purchase as it is all recycled paper.

I would recommend this book to any and all ages who love fantasy with a twist of the unexpected. I am providing a video to show what is to be expected inside of the book. I know a lot of people are scared to buy something they have never seen before.