Original Vintage Print by Arthur Rackham from Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens
ARTHUR RACKHAM — THE KENSINGTON GARDENS ARE IN LONDON, WHERE THE KING LIVES
From Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens • 1906 • Original Color Plate [Frontispiece] Art Nouveau.
A foundational Arthur Rackham illustration from the 1906 edition of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, capturing a surreal and detailed encounter between the British monarchy and the hidden world of spirits, rendered in Rackham's quintessential muted earth tones and intricate ink work.
The plate serves as a primary example of Rackham’s early Art Nouveau influence, juxtaposing the rigid formality of King Edward VII with the chaotic, organic forms of anthropomorphic trees and woodland fairies. This specific print, originally issued as a tipped-in plate on heavy brown stock, illustrates the transition between reality and fantasy that defined the Golden Age of Illustration.
DETAILS:
+++ Original color plate illustration by Arthur Rackham
+++ From Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by J. M. Barrie
+++ Published London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1906
+++ Frontispiece (captioned: The Kensington Gardens are in London, where the King lives)
+++ Removed from volume; matted to 8 x 10 inches
+++ Page size approximately 6 x 8.12 inches; image area 4 x 6 inches
CONDITION: Very Good. Page shows natural age-toning consistent with 1906 paper stock, primarily at the margins and not affecting the central image; print remains vibrant with crisp line work; yellow border clean; overall a very well-preserved specimen, matted and ready for framing.
CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS —
A sophisticated Rackham composition featuring a portrait of King Edward VII within the mythic landscape of Kensington Gardens; this plate showcases the artist's mastery of the grotesque and the ethereal, with delicate watercolor washes and fine-line pen work. As a standout piece from one of the most significant illustrated books of the 20th century, it remains a centerpiece for collectors of fantasy art and Edwardian era ephemera.
SUBJECTS: Arthur Rackham, Peter Pan, Kensington Gardens, King Edward VII, Edwardian Fantasy, British Monarchy in Art, Fairies and Folklore, Art Nouveau Illustration, Golden Age of Illustration, London Parks History, Original Vintage Print, Tipped-in Plate, Book Illustration, Fantasy Art, Edwardian Ephemera, Art Nouveau.
Item #21996
Price: $14.00
Other books you may like
