Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration

Artists have been inspired by fantasy for hundreds of years, presenting an impossible reality where dragons breathe fire, angels battle demons, and magicians weave spells. This handsome volume reveals how artists have brought to life mythology, fables, and fairy tales, as well as modern epics like The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. It features more than 180 color illustrations, including numerous stunning full-page reproductions, and is a must-have reference for artists and illustrators.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 30 July 2020
Publisher: Abbeville Press Inc.,U.S.

For countless centuries, artists have been captivated by the boundless realm of fantasy, a realm where imagination knows no bounds. Unlike science fiction, which is grounded in reality, fantasy presents an impossibility—a universe where dragons breathe fire, angels wage war against demons, and magicians weave spells. Published in conjunction with a significant exhibition organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum, this captivating volume unveils how artists have brought to life mythology, fables, and fairy tales, as well as modern epics like The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones.

The core text of Enchanted, penned by exhibition curator Jesse Kowalski, explores the origins of fantasy themes across civilizations and the evolution of fantasy illustration from the Old Masters to the Victorian fairypainters, to Golden Age illustrators like Howard Pyle and Arthur Rackham, to classic cover artists like Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo, to emerging talents like Anna Dittmann and Victo Ngai. Supplementary essays by esteemed contributors delve into specific aspects of fantasy illustration, such as the interplay between science and fantasy in the 19th century, and the illustrators of Robert E. Howard.

Enchanted boasts an impressive array of over 180 color illustrations, featuring numerous breathtaking full-page reproductions. This exquisite volume serves as a vital resource for artists and illustrators, as well as a source of sheer delight for all enthusiasts of fantasy.

Weight: 1498g
Dimension: 241 x 287 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780789213709