Annie French ~ Favorite Illustrator

"In The Woods"

Annie French (1872 - 1965)

Illustration by Annie French (1872 - 1965)

I wrote a version of this blog post at a companion blog in 2010. I'm re-posting it here because the link to the old post is no longer active. I love Annie French's work! I have more of her illustrations posted at my Art of Narrative Tumblr, and on my Art of Narrative Facebook.

I became aware of Annie French after seeing another one of her wonderful illustrations at Children's/ Fantasy Illustrations, a great blog featuring classic and modern book illustration (that no longer exists). The top illustration is my favorite of the two. If anyone knows what stories these illustrate, please let me know!

I couldn't find a whole lot about her, but here's a bit:

Artist Profile: Annie French
19th & 20th Century European Artist 1872 - 1965

Biography: The daughter of a metallurgist, Annie French was born in Glasgow and studied at the Glasgow School of Art under Fra Newbery and the Belgian Symbolist, Jean Delville (1896-1902). Influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, Aubrey Beardsley and Jessie M King, she developed a style combining vivid colours, curvilinearity of form and almost confetti-like textures... (To read the biography at its original site, please click on her name!)

Copied Here:

The daughter of a metallurgist, Annie French was born in Glasgow and studied at the Glasgow School of Art under Fra Newbery and the Belgian Symbolist, Jean Delville (1896-1902).Influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, Aubrey Beardsley and Jessie M King, she developed a style combining vivid colours, curvilinearity of form and almost confetti-like textures. While still a student, she contributed an illustration to The Book of the Jubilee of the University of Glasgow (1901), and later illustrated one book, a selection of Heine?s poems for Foulis (1908). However, her watercolours (often on vellum) and drawings are mainly in the form of illustrations, and she designed a number of postcards and greetings cards. In 1906, she began to share a studio with Bessie Innes Young and Jane Younger and, three years later, became Tutor in Ceramic Decoration at Glasgow School of Art as successor to JESSIE M KING. But following her marriage to the artist George Woolliscroft Rhead (1854-1920), she settled in London, and became a frequent exhibitor at the Royal Academy, until the mid nineteen-twenties. She died in Jersey. © Loch Gallery – Printed under “Fair Use” for Educational Purposes

Text © 2016 Art of Narrative

Frank Cheyne Papé ~ The Story of the Little Merman ~ 1909

Enjoy these rare images by Frank Cheyne Papé (British, 1878-1972) for The Story of the Little Merman by Ethel Reader, published in 1909 by MacMillan & Co. Limited, London. There are two fairy tales illustrated in this book, The Story of the Little Merman, and The Story of the Queen of the Gnomes and the True Prince.

 Frank Cheyne Papé ~ The Story of the Little Merman ~ 1909

The Story of the Little Merman

The Little Merman swam to the shore, and, creeping
up the strand, lay on the yellow sands at her feet.

Frank Cheyne Papé ~ The Story of the Little Merman ~ 1909

The Story of the Little Merman

"It's very sharp," he said. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," answered the Little Merman,
and he shut his eyes.

Frank Cheyne Papé ~ The Story of the Little Merman ~ 1909

The Story of the Little Merman

Frank Cheyne Papé ~ The Little Merman ~ 1909

The Story of the Little Merman

Frank Cheyne Papé ~ The Little Merman ~ 1909

The Story of the Queen of the Gnomes and the True Prince

She looked the ugliest of the little men 
straight in the face, and she tossed back her head 
and folded her arms, just like the pictures 
of Napoleon at St. Helena.

Frank Cheyne Papé ~ The Little Merman ~ 1909

The Story of the Queen of the Gnomes and the True Prince

Frank Cheyne Papé ~ The Little Merman ~ 1909

The Story of the Queen of the Gnomes and the True Prince

Something in the Witch's face had already told him 
that she was not a nice person to ask favours of.

Frank Cheyne Papé ~ The Little Merman ~ 1909

The Story of the Queen of the Gnomes and the True Prince

"Oh, Goblin," she cried, "where are you? 
What has happened. Is it you?"

From the captions provided at an auction site for some of the illustrations, the stories seem creatively and compellingly written. I enjoy the first and the last illustration the best, as well as the illustration of the Queen of the Gnomes with her arms folded. The second illustration is painful to contemplate. Which illustration is your favorite?



Text © 2016 Art of Narrative

Alice Helena Watson ~ The Golden Weathercock ~ 1934

Alice Helena Watson (A. H. Watson) (1896-1984)

Book Cover with Inset Illustration

Alice Watson ~ The Golden Weathercock ~ 1934

These lovely illustrations, four color plates by Alice Helena Watson, known as A. H. Watson, were published in 1934 by Blackie and Son, Ltd. (London and Glasgow) for The Golden Weathercock by Julia Goddard, retold by Dorothy King, for the Stories Old and New series. The inset cover illustration is repeated in the volume.

I couldn't find much information about Alice Watson other than the article linked at the heading to her name, with a brief biography about her life and art. The illustrations make me want to read the stories. The last illustration reminds me of a sort of Pandora, without any ominous connotation. The young woman and the fairy both appear benign and charming.

Frontispiece

Alice Watson ~ The Golden Weathercock ~ 1934

"See what comes of speaking pleasant words,"
said the South Wind.

Alice Watson ~ The Golden Weathercock ~ 1934

The Dragon is Ready to Fight

Alice Watson ~ The Golden Weathercock ~ 1934

A Minuet

Alice Watson ~ The Golden Weathercock ~ 1934

"Now you look as people ought to look."

Text © 2016 Art of Narrative