Walter Crane - part 9

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 - 8 also.

This is part 9 of a 19-part series on the works of Walter Crane.

1881 A Winter Nosegay: Being Tales for Children at Christmastide:

Frontispiece

The Man in the Moon

The Man in the Moon

Cat and Dog Stories

A fortune in an empty wallet

End-piece

1882 The Cuckoo Clock by Mrs Molesworth:

Frontispiece
It was a little boat

Title page

"Why won't you speak to me?"

Mandarins nodding

My aunts must have come back

She looked like a Fairy Queen

"Where are that cuckoo?"

"Tired? How could I be tired, Cuckoo?"

1885 Tell me a Story by Mrs Molesworth 

published by Macmillan & Co.

'Naughty, naughty aunty,' he said;..

All the white counterpane of her little bed was covered with tiny figures of various sizes...

'Good night, Winney,' I said.

'Welcome to fairyland, Connemara.'

Jane stepped closer to her. and deposited Mary Ann in her arms.-

What are you staring at so? she said, sharply.

'Is that my Charlie crying, first thing on a Monday morning?'

1886 The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde, and Other Stories:

Frontispiece
"She was in the garden, lying on the marble edge of a fountain, feeding the gold fish who swam in the water."

Title Page

"Next morning when Fiorimonde dressed she looked at her necklace and counted its beads, but she was much perplexed, for a new bead was added to the string."

"Then he picked up the necklace on the point of his sword and carried it, slung thereon, into the council chamber."

"One by one the villagers came out of their cottages, and gathered round them to listen."

"He began to play, and then all smiles ceased."

"Tis their daughter, Princess Joan," said the wizard with a sigh. "But do not look at her, my son, for she will bring nothing but trouble to all who know her."

—and ere they could stop her she had turned her palfrey's head towards the prison window, and pushed her white arms through the bars to clasp the Prince.

"Good-day, friend," said he. "If you have nothing to do, perhaps you would not mind carrying my load for me for a little."

"If you will give me a home in your oven I will see to the baking of your bread, and will answer for it that you shall never have so much as a loaf spoiled."

"Now, here I lie peacefully all day long and watch my geese, and it is much nicer than being King."

"Then the Princess left the cave and wandered down to the sea-shore."