Customer Reviews

Rackham's Fairy Tale Illustrations in Full Color

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This slim book presents 55 of Arthur Rackham's fairy tale illustrations from several of his books. The illustrations are reproduced on high quality paper. Almost every image is at least 5x7 or 6x8 inches in size and suitable for framing. While I don't usually recommend deconstructing books for their illustrations, this book is well-suited for the purpose and preferable to taking apart an older book for its plates. No fairy tales are presented, just the illustrations with their titles and sources. If you are a Rackham fan, buy one copy to take apart for framing and another one to keep on your bookshelf. Most of these illustrations are not available in any size for art prints. Many of the illustrations are not available in print in any other source at this time except for the original antique books in which they appeared.

I heartily concur with the estimations of Rackham's value to the area of children's book illustrations. Look for Rackham's Mother Goose and Alice in Wonderland from Chancellor Press to introduce your little ones to his illustrations is book form, as well as Favorite Tales From Grimm. But my desire here is to point out the true color found in this collection of Rackham's illustrations. Beware, as some books republished with his pictures do not capture the subtlety of his use of color. He used dark colors and gently colored objects in all of his pictures. This book, along with Dover's other Rackham collections show his work in all its glory, the subtle and the grotesque simultaneously. A delight for any collector of Rackham, suitable for framing.

Fans of Arthur Rackham's style of drawing from turn-of-the-century fairy tales will find Fairy Tale Illustrations In Full Color an especially appealing collection reproducing over fifty of his fantastical drawings from rare early plates. Packed with appeal from cover to cover, Fairy Tale Illustrations In Full Color is a very highly recommended pick for all ages.

This thin volume is filled with some of the most enchanting drawings and paintings ever to grace childrens' books. There is an element of style in Rackham's work that reminds me in many ways of Japanese woodblock prints of the 19th century. And like a quality Japanese woodblock print, a Rackham plate is a feast for the eye.

Fairy tale subjects can range the fair to the hideous. Often illustrators are biased towards one end of the spectrum. Rackham is one of those talented artists that can simultaneously capture the beauty of a fair maiden and the brutishness of a foul giant in one composition. I especially like the vitality of his figures and the whimsical and often grotesque facial expressions of his fairies and giants. I would recommend this volume to anyone who is fond of fairy tales and fine illustration.

when i ordered Rackham's books, I was taken a childrens lit class and was surprised to see the Grimm nature of stories for children. The very detailed and dark paintings help to show this and also harken one's mind into a world of fantasy and magic-a crucial element in any children's work. Enjoyed it and his rendetion of Wagner's ring, although it lacks (by nature of the Operas tragic tale) the vigour and innocence of fairy tales and insted enters the relem of Epic.

Indeed a grate collection of various fairy tale illustrations. A must have if you are a Rackham or fairy tale lover regardless of your age.

very pleased with the book.have always hoped i could draw like him but my life took me down another road