Walter Crane - part 2

Walter Crane (15 August 1845 – 14 March 1915) was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most influential, and among the most prolific, children's book creators of his generation and, along with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, one of the strongest contributors to the child's nursery motif that the genre of English children's illustrated literature would exhibit in its developmental stages in the later 19th century.

Crane's work featured some of the more colourful and detailed beginnings of the child-in-the-garden motifs that would characterise many nursery rhymes and children's stories for decades to come. He was part of the Arts and Crafts movement and produced an array of paintings, illustrations, children's books, ceramic tiles, wallpapers and other decorative arts. Crane is also remembered for his creation of a number of iconic images associated with the international socialist movement.

For more in-depth biographical notes see part 1 also.

This is part 2 of a 19-part series on the works of Walter Crane.

c1870-75 Walter Crane's Toy Books 

published by George Routledge & Sons:

Bluebeard.

For a month after the wedding they
lived and had good cheer.

And oft she saw the closet door and loged
to look inside.

And this poor wife, distracted, picked the key
up from the floor.

"Come down!" cried Bluebeard, "time is
up!" With many a sigh and moan,

But she asked of Jack his business,
and how he in that land came.

c1870-75 Cinderella:

Title Page

There was an honest gentleman, who had a daughter dear:

They dressed themselves so fine in silks, and pearls, and flowers, and lace,

Now fetch the mouse-trap from the shelf - there are six mice inside

And then the Fairy raised her wand, and touched the shabby gown

She promised, and with joyful heart she gained the palace hall,

The Prince danced with her every dance, and praised her more and more,

Next day was a proclamation made: " Whereas, a crystal shoe
Has been discovered at the ball,

Now do the sisters kneel, and beg forgiveness for their pride;

c1870-75 My Mother:

My Mother.
Who fed me from her gentle breast,

Who sat and watched my infant head,

Who dress'd my doll on clothes so gay,

Who ran to help me when I fell,

When thou art feeble, old and gray,

And when I see thee hang thy head,

1870 Puss in Boots :

Puss in Boots.
A Miller lay dying, - he made his last will;

"No, Master," said Puss, "give me boots to my feet -

So the Puss put on boots, and he started abroad,

One morn, said the Cat to his Master, "I pray...

And being well dried and well rid of the water,

At last he arrived at a castle so grand,

The Miller's son thus became lord of the place,

The Absurd A.B.C

published by G. Routledge & Sons:

A B C D

E F G

H I J

K L M

N O P

Q R S

T U V

W X Y Z

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1874 Quiver of Love
watercolour
© The Trustees of the British Museum

1874 Quiver of Love
watercolour and gold
© The Trustees of the British Museum

1874 Sonnet by Sylvester
watercolour and gold, with body-colour over graphite
© The Trustees of the British Museum

1874 The Auxiliary Postman, Valentine's Day card
process block printed in colours
© The Trustees of the British Museum

1874-75 Ladies Chain
design for a Christmas Card
watercolour and gold
© The Trustees of the British Museum

1875 Swan, Rush and Iris

This is one of Walter Crane’s earliest designs for wall paper. The black outlines and solid blocks of colour of this design suggest a study of Greek vase painting. A slightly amended version of this design was produced as wallpaper two years later by Jeffrey & Co.

1875 Swan, Rush and Iris
wallpaper design
body-colour on paper 53.1 x 53 cm