WALTER CRANE

Original Illustration
Pen & Ink with Watercolour
Original Book Art from
1887 ' Echoes of Hellas '

Walter Crane

'Paris Leaves for Battle - Helen of Troy Despondent'

ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATION - Pen & Ink with Watercolour

Original art by Walter Crane (British 1845-1915) after a watercolour sketch by Sir Frederick Leighton (British 1830-1896).

This illustration was used in the book 'Echoes of Hellas. The Tale of Troy and the Story of Orestes from Homer and Aeschylus' by George Warr and illustrated by Crane and published in London by Marcus Ward in 1887.

As noted on the verso, this illustration is also referenced in Isobel Spencer's book 'Walter Crane', published by Studio Vista in 1975.

17 x 15  inches (in frame)
93/8 x 67/8 inches (image sight within frame and mat)

Nicely framed in a modern decorative gilded frame.

In very good condition save a tear at the top left corner and small tear at the lower left corner. Please see photos.

Walter Crane, son of artist Thomas Crane, was from the famed  Golden Age of Illustration, figuring prominently among other legendary illustrators such as Arthur Rackham, Kate Greenaway, Randolph Caldecott, Aubrey Beardsley, etc.

Crane enjoyed a close friendship with William Morris, the founder of the esteemed Kelmscott Press, established in 1891. The very first title from Kelmscott was The Story of the Glittering Plain, which Morris had wanted Crane to illustrate. Unfortunately, Crane wasn't able to finish the artwork on time, leading Morris to publish the book without illustrations. Later, in 1894, The Story of the Glittering Plain saw a second release, this time expanded and adorned with 23 woodcuts created by Crane. Notably, it remains the only title to have been printed twice by Kelmscott.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Crane

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