Walter Crane - part 5

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, and for earlier works see parts 1 - 4 also.

This is part 5 of a 19-part series on the works of Walter Crane.

1875 Little Red Riding Hood

published by George Routledge & Sons:

Red Riding Hood.

Out set Riding Hood, so obliging and sweet,

But in the meanwhile the Wolf went with a grin,

Off he ran, and Red Riding Hood went on her way,

"Who is there?" "It is your dear grandchild;...

The obedient child laid her down by the side of her Grandmother dear...

Red Riding Hood shrieked, and - bang! off went the gun,

1875 The Yellow Dwarf 

published by George Routlege & Sons:

The Yellow Dwarf rescues the princess from the lions.

Appearance of the Fairy of the Desert.

The combat

The combat detail

The combat detail

The Fairy of the Desert carries the King of the Gold Mines.

The king lets the sword fall.

Jack and the Bean Stalk

published by George Routledge & Sons:

Bags of gold and silver Jack took home,

On he went, and reached the giant's house, and found him at home;

He perceived the beans had sprouted,

Down the bean-stalk he hastened,

My Mother

Published by George Routledge & Sons:

End paper

My Mother. Who fed me from her gentle breast...

Who sat and watched my infant head...

Who dress’d my doll in clothes so gay...

Who taught my infant lips to pray...

Who ran to help me when I fell...

When thou art feeble, old, and gray...

And when I see thee hang thy head...

The Sleeping Beauty

published by George Routledge & Sons:

Long ago, in ancient times, there lived a King and Queen,

An aged peasant told of an enchanted palace,

He leads her forth;

Ladies in act to smile, and pages in attendance wait;

The Fairies seven, who loved the land -

Until the Fairy godmothers their gifts and wishes gave;