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The Arthur Rackham Treasury: 86 Full-Color Illustrations
This stunning treasury features full-page plates of the finest works by the famed English artist, Arthur Rackham (1867–1939). A leading figure in the early twentieth century's Golden Age of Illustration, Rackham interpreted scenes from such diverse material as fairy tales, Wagnerian opera, and Shakespearean comedy. His memorable images, which combine whimsy, romance, and sophistication, continue to enchant children and adults alike.
Magnificently reprinted from more than 25 rare early editions, these 86 illustrations were selected from hundreds of possibilities and include many plates that have not been reproduced in decades. They span Rackham's career — from 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. Art lovers, book collectors, and anyone with an appreciation for imaginative visual storytelling will prize this marvelous treasury.
Magnificently reprinted from more than 25 rare early editions, these 86 illustrations were selected from hundreds of possibilities and include many plates that have not been reproduced in decades. They span Rackham's career — from 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. Art lovers, book collectors, and anyone with an appreciation for imaginative visual storytelling will prize this marvelous treasury.
96 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 5, 2017
The best selection of fairy tale artworks by Arthur Rackham I've seen published. None of his most famous and best works are missing like in some other collections of his illustrations that I've seen, and there were a few I'd never seen before because they were done for books that are hard to find now. It was very tempting to rip some of the illustrations out and frame them for hanging on the wall, they were so pretty!
September 18, 2022
Probably my favourite illustrator of all time. There were quite a few in this collection I hadn't seen before, and it has made me want to track down some more of his books. Maybe I'll treat myself to his Wind in the Willows edition, or AliceAlice's Adventures in Wonderland - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham, though I do love Tenniel's illustrations too.
September 2, 2019
What to say about this book - well it is hard not to repeat the words of others or their sentiments. But even though you may not recognise the name (or in my case mistake it for someone totally different) but you will certainly recognise the work.
In all the weird and wonderful books I have read and own I guess the work of Arthur Rackham has consistently and persistently popped up time and time again.
His work is instantly recognisable (as acknowledged in the introduction to the book) and has graced some of the most famous and influential books of our time. From Shakespeare to Grahame Arthur Rackham has taken images so instantly recognisable and somehow made them his own.
The pieces are amazing and so beautifully reproduced in the pages of this book -the only negative thing I can say is that I wish there were more and that the subject would not jump around so much. This was one of those gambles I took and I cannot say glad I am that I made it.
In all the weird and wonderful books I have read and own I guess the work of Arthur Rackham has consistently and persistently popped up time and time again.
His work is instantly recognisable (as acknowledged in the introduction to the book) and has graced some of the most famous and influential books of our time. From Shakespeare to Grahame Arthur Rackham has taken images so instantly recognisable and somehow made them his own.
The pieces are amazing and so beautifully reproduced in the pages of this book -the only negative thing I can say is that I wish there were more and that the subject would not jump around so much. This was one of those gambles I took and I cannot say glad I am that I made it.
February 6, 2018
The artwork was glorious,and as a result of a few of his drawings I will be reading The Vicar of Wakefield and Rip van Winkle.
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March 12, 2017What I love in Rackham's art is that same feeling I get from the best Pre-Raphaelites - Burne-Jones' Arthur, for instance. That sense of somehow capturing the impossible level of detail with which our world enchants, but rendering with it a purer, truer realm where the beauties are clearer, the shadows darker and even the evils are grand instead of shabby. Most of these illustrations originally accompanied the sort of texts you'd expect - Poe, Goblin Market, some especially fine renderings of the Ring Cycle - but even the ones from The Vicar of Wakefield find an otherworldliness in this one.
June 22, 2016
You may not know the name ‘Arthur Rackham’; but I assure you that you have seen his work. Hailing from London; Rackham was one of the most prolific illustrators of the Victorian era. His prints and illustrations have littered our childhoods and now grace the walls of museums and art collectors’ wish lists. Jeff A. Menges compiles 86 of my favorite illustrator’s works in, “The Arthur Rackham Treasury”.
“The Arthur Rackham Treasury” is a soft-covered, glossy-paged collection which makes for a light coffee table book or a supplement to an art exhibit. Each page features a print, illustration, or drawing showcasing Rackham’s 30 year career from “Rip Van Winkle” to “The Wind in the Willows”. The illustrations are accompanied by a quote from the story or image it is depicting and the title of the book it is from (if available).
Menges begins “The Arthur Rackham Treasury” with a brief, simple introduction explaining the highlights of Rackham’s career before then detailing the reasoning behind the images chosen to grace the pages. Those seeking a detailed bio of Rackham will be sorely disappointed as “The Arthur Rackham Treasury” is literally just a compiling of images.
Menges does well with choosing a strong ratio of famous works with that previously not in print thus satisfying both those new and unfamiliar with Rackham’s pieces. The images chosen are a mastery of talent and are alive with breath and movement. Rackham’s work is truly mesmerizing and Menges captures it well in “The Arthur Rackham Treasury”.
Rackham’s work is not always suitable for small children as they do include goblins, trolls, fairies, etc and sometimes can be ‘scary’. In the same vein, “The Arthur Rackham Treasury” may not be ideal for children with fears of these images/subjects.
The major issue with “The Arthur Rackham Treasury” is the lack of detail on its pages. Menges merely provides a visual but there are no descriptions for art lovers such as date completed, materials used, etc. There is something left to be desired for hardcore Rackham lovers.
“The Arthur Rackham Treasury” is a super quick visual look at the images of Rackham’s works. Although it isn’t an insight into the man himself (see: Arthur Rackham: A Life with Illustration); it is an enjoyable coffee table book for those who love Rackham’s illustrations.
“The Arthur Rackham Treasury” is a soft-covered, glossy-paged collection which makes for a light coffee table book or a supplement to an art exhibit. Each page features a print, illustration, or drawing showcasing Rackham’s 30 year career from “Rip Van Winkle” to “The Wind in the Willows”. The illustrations are accompanied by a quote from the story or image it is depicting and the title of the book it is from (if available).
Menges begins “The Arthur Rackham Treasury” with a brief, simple introduction explaining the highlights of Rackham’s career before then detailing the reasoning behind the images chosen to grace the pages. Those seeking a detailed bio of Rackham will be sorely disappointed as “The Arthur Rackham Treasury” is literally just a compiling of images.
Menges does well with choosing a strong ratio of famous works with that previously not in print thus satisfying both those new and unfamiliar with Rackham’s pieces. The images chosen are a mastery of talent and are alive with breath and movement. Rackham’s work is truly mesmerizing and Menges captures it well in “The Arthur Rackham Treasury”.
Rackham’s work is not always suitable for small children as they do include goblins, trolls, fairies, etc and sometimes can be ‘scary’. In the same vein, “The Arthur Rackham Treasury” may not be ideal for children with fears of these images/subjects.
The major issue with “The Arthur Rackham Treasury” is the lack of detail on its pages. Menges merely provides a visual but there are no descriptions for art lovers such as date completed, materials used, etc. There is something left to be desired for hardcore Rackham lovers.
“The Arthur Rackham Treasury” is a super quick visual look at the images of Rackham’s works. Although it isn’t an insight into the man himself (see: Arthur Rackham: A Life with Illustration); it is an enjoyable coffee table book for those who love Rackham’s illustrations.
December 31, 2019
A very impresive world of painting and tales.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2021
"Art lovers, book collectors, and anyone with an appreciation for imaginative visual storytelling will prize this marvelous treasury."
This is one of those books that I've kept for many years because I felt like I should. After all, aren't all the reviews glowing? Doesn't the book itself say that if I love books, particularly illustrated works or children's literature, I simply must cherish this one?
The truth is, I don't like Rackham's style at all. Everything's washed out - yellow-brown - and rather grotesque. There are maybe three or four plates in here that I liked; for the rest, I could certainly see why they're of historic importance, for an artist who kicked off a golden age of illustrated literature. But not everyone who did it first did it best, and not all styles appeal to everyone.
There isn't much in the way of commentary for this book - just a little introduction, and the captions and sources for each plate. It's interesting that Rackham's last work was The Wind in the Willows, a book he'd spent 32 years wanting to illustrate, but had never had the time to sit down with. There's something bittersweet about that. I'm glad he was finally able to get to it.
This would be a good collection for someone who particularly loves Rackham's works or who's particularly interested in the early days of (color-printed) illustrated publishing. Turns out that isn't me after all. Oddly, I might've enjoyed it more if there'd been more text to accompany the images!
This is one of those books that I've kept for many years because I felt like I should. After all, aren't all the reviews glowing? Doesn't the book itself say that if I love books, particularly illustrated works or children's literature, I simply must cherish this one?
The truth is, I don't like Rackham's style at all. Everything's washed out - yellow-brown - and rather grotesque. There are maybe three or four plates in here that I liked; for the rest, I could certainly see why they're of historic importance, for an artist who kicked off a golden age of illustrated literature. But not everyone who did it first did it best, and not all styles appeal to everyone.
There isn't much in the way of commentary for this book - just a little introduction, and the captions and sources for each plate. It's interesting that Rackham's last work was The Wind in the Willows, a book he'd spent 32 years wanting to illustrate, but had never had the time to sit down with. There's something bittersweet about that. I'm glad he was finally able to get to it.
This would be a good collection for someone who particularly loves Rackham's works or who's particularly interested in the early days of (color-printed) illustrated publishing. Turns out that isn't me after all. Oddly, I might've enjoyed it more if there'd been more text to accompany the images!
February 8, 2015
Beautiful. I just love those autumn colors in Rackham's art . The ones I like the most are his drawings of trees and tree spirits.
https://www.google.hr/search?tbm=isch...
https://www.google.hr/search?tbm=isch...
March 22, 2019
This large format book contains a vast array of the whimsical and evocative illustrations of the great Arthur Rackham. Immediately recognizable, Rackham's illustrations have become synonymous with the fantastic and the mysterious and this collection neatly portrays his distinctive style.
Featured are illustrations from famous Rackham works, like his depictions of Rip van Winkle, Das Nibelungenlied, and fairy tales, and less well known pieces, such as his work on The Wind in the Willows and some Shakespeare.
Each illustration is presented with a very short piece of narration and the title of the associated work. Unless one is already familiar with the particular story, this does not offer very much context into the painting, but that is this works only drawback, in my opinion.
I would recommend this book to fans of 19th century illustration.
Featured are illustrations from famous Rackham works, like his depictions of Rip van Winkle, Das Nibelungenlied, and fairy tales, and less well known pieces, such as his work on The Wind in the Willows and some Shakespeare.
Each illustration is presented with a very short piece of narration and the title of the associated work. Unless one is already familiar with the particular story, this does not offer very much context into the painting, but that is this works only drawback, in my opinion.
I would recommend this book to fans of 19th century illustration.
August 10, 2023
¡¡Precioso!! Este tomo contiene exactamente lo que pone: 86 ilustraciones maravillosas de fantasía elaboradas por Arthur Rackhman en el primer tercio del siglo XX. Que conste que yo soy una absoluta vendida a Alan Lee y Brian Froud porque adquirieron mi alma al ser quienes dieron forma a las hadas en mi infancia. Poco después llegarían John Howe y Tony DiTerlizzi (a los que también adoro). Y ahora parece haberle llegado el turno a este señor, absoluto precursor del género y seguramente la inspiración de todos los anteriores. Qué bonito todo, por favor ♡♡♡♡
Ahora tengo ganas de 1. leer cuentos de hadas y 2. pasar más tiempo con libros de ilustración, que me encantan y tengo la estantería art-attack flojísima. A ver si me pongo.
Ahora tengo ganas de 1. leer cuentos de hadas y 2. pasar más tiempo con libros de ilustración, que me encantan y tengo la estantería art-attack flojísima. A ver si me pongo.
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January 6, 2019My favorite illustrator! That is all.
August 24, 2019
A collection of images by an artist.
Some of the pieces were interesting, but most felt dated.
Viewing time around thirty minutes.
Some of the pieces were interesting, but most felt dated.
Viewing time around thirty minutes.
February 9, 2023
As a child, I love all the storybooks that Arthur Rackham illustrated. Sadly those were lost to time and use, so this book is wonderful in that it brings back those lost memories.
December 14, 2016
Arthur Rackham is one of those master illustrators, an artist whose style is instantly recognizable by anyone who has ever seen his works. As the blurb on the back cover relates, he was a leading figure in the early twentieth century’s Golden Age of Illustration and the title is well deserved. His particular style, which combined clean lines in his figures with rococo backgrounds lent itself brilliantly to the various subjects he tackled. He didn’t really tend much toward the brighter colors but he made astonishing use of the somber, neutral palettes of beige, gray-greens and browns.
He is particularly well known for his illustrations of myths and fantasy and many are displayed here in full-length color pages. Here you will find his talents given to works by William Shakespeare, Christina Rossetti, Richard Wagner, the Grimm Brothers and Jonathan Swift, et al. Green-haired mermaids are just distinct from the wavy, shell-like rocks to which they cling; a furious Gulliver draws his sword against a swarm of attacking wasps; Titania reaches out imploringly to a transformed Bottom, whose asinine face bears a convincing expression of astonishment at the sight of her; Daphne’s transformation into a tree shows less of bark and more of winding cloth and wind-tossed hair, reminding me of the aqueous deity who was her father and fae faces and limbs peep forth from a tree as an off-page Caliban describes the sweet noises that seem to come out of nowhere on the enchanted isle.
This book is indeed a treasure and those who adore Rackham will want it for their own. Those readers who have never seen his works (Really? Where have you been?) will be astonished at the range of his abilities. In any case, you may just want to run out and get the various books to which his pictures are attached just to get the full effect of seeing them in context. They’re that superb.
He is particularly well known for his illustrations of myths and fantasy and many are displayed here in full-length color pages. Here you will find his talents given to works by William Shakespeare, Christina Rossetti, Richard Wagner, the Grimm Brothers and Jonathan Swift, et al. Green-haired mermaids are just distinct from the wavy, shell-like rocks to which they cling; a furious Gulliver draws his sword against a swarm of attacking wasps; Titania reaches out imploringly to a transformed Bottom, whose asinine face bears a convincing expression of astonishment at the sight of her; Daphne’s transformation into a tree shows less of bark and more of winding cloth and wind-tossed hair, reminding me of the aqueous deity who was her father and fae faces and limbs peep forth from a tree as an off-page Caliban describes the sweet noises that seem to come out of nowhere on the enchanted isle.
This book is indeed a treasure and those who adore Rackham will want it for their own. Those readers who have never seen his works (Really? Where have you been?) will be astonished at the range of his abilities. In any case, you may just want to run out and get the various books to which his pictures are attached just to get the full effect of seeing them in context. They’re that superb.
November 8, 2012
86 colour illustrations doesn't seem like enough to cover the broad range of Arthur Rackham's artistic career, but Menges has chosen carefully so that Rackham's major works are represented. There are examples from his series of Norse myths, his work with Shakespeare, some from his books for younger children like Mother Goose, and some of his most popular publications like Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. I really enjoyed that there was no dominant work among the selections, as each book was represented by only a few illustrations, so the reader is getting the most variety and the author isn't showing a bias towards any specific favourite work.
A selection of his magazine illustrations could also have been included to show his progression, but many of the Rackham biographies feature these, so they are not essential to this collection. On the contrary, I would have liked to see a selection of Rackham's silouettes, as they are often overlooked as a siginificant part of his portfolio and there has not been a definitive republication of the pictures besides the books themselves yet. Some minor commentary would have also been nice so that first-time readers could get an idea why certain pictures were chosen rather than others, and to encourage them to go find the books that these illustrations come from to see the entire collection. Leaving out any commentary (besides signalling which publication each illustration is from) does focus the reader on the illustrations though, which is the whole point of a collection like this one.
A selection of his magazine illustrations could also have been included to show his progression, but many of the Rackham biographies feature these, so they are not essential to this collection. On the contrary, I would have liked to see a selection of Rackham's silouettes, as they are often overlooked as a siginificant part of his portfolio and there has not been a definitive republication of the pictures besides the books themselves yet. Some minor commentary would have also been nice so that first-time readers could get an idea why certain pictures were chosen rather than others, and to encourage them to go find the books that these illustrations come from to see the entire collection. Leaving out any commentary (besides signalling which publication each illustration is from) does focus the reader on the illustrations though, which is the whole point of a collection like this one.
November 3, 2007
Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) made perfect story illustrations with intense detail and thin, bold lines, all with very natural, earthy colors. I like to plagiarize his work and tell people it was my own design.
December 5, 2021
Arthur Rackham is a British illustrator who did magnificent work creating images for folk and fairy tales as well as important works of literature. This is a delightful collection, each print bringing a recollection of wonderful encounters with the world of fiction.
January 17, 2008
Excellent pidery and a little creepy fairy tale art from World War I era English artist.
February 9, 2009
I LOVE this artist!
Read
May 23, 2009Arthur Rackham is a master illustrator.
Want to read
August 6, 2009Arthur Rackham's works are out-of-this-world stunning!
October 4, 2012
Rackham may be the best illustrator of all time. At least for fairy tales.
March 10, 2016
Love the art! They say a pictures worth a thousand word, but put the right words with a picture and magic happens.
Want to read
November 28, 2014just ordered this little treasure.. will post once i read it.
February 1, 2014
Always impressive!
June 22, 2015
Very quick read, and I definitely prefer Rackham's work in the context it was painted/drawn for. Still quite lovely.
June 12, 2011
Stunning illustrations but poorly printed.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews