No. 171 of an edition limited to 1030 copies signed by the author.

A stunning treasury of 86 full-page plates span the famed English artist's career, from Rip Van Winkle (1905) to masterworks such as Undine, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Wind in the Willows (1939).

This edition of Rackham's images, widely regarded as the greatest representations of Wagner's drama, comprises 64 full-page color illustrations and 9 vignettes from Siegfried, The Twilight of the Gods, The Rhinegold, and The Valkyrie.

This book forms part of a series, dedicated to the artwork of Arthur Rackham ­(1867 – 1939), one of the most celebrated artists of the British Golden Age of Illustration. Over his long and illustrious career, he contributed to over 150 books, magazines and periodicals, resulting in a vast array of original artworks. Whether producing whimsical children’s images or murkier, foreboding drawings for adults, Rackham’s unique style of illustration was (and still is) admired by countless collectors, critics and the general public. For the first time, this book brings together the entirety of Rackham’s stunning images, sourced from rare and original books, in order that the modern reader may fully appreciate his art. This first volume comprises of over 340 black and white and colour illustrations by Rackham from his works dating from 1896 – 1910, and includes images from The Zankiwank and the Bletherwitch (1896), Tales From Shakespeare (1899) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1907), Grimm’s Tales (1909) and Wagner’s Ring Cycle (1910) – to name but a few. The book also contains a biography of Rackham’s personal, professional and artistic life, as well as an introduction to the fascinating ‘Golden Age’ period of illustration.

Arthur Rackham was a Victorian born illustrator and artist who influenced much of the book and commercial illustration of the first half of the 20th Century. The impish detail of his hundreds of drawings brought humour and dark detail to the fairy stories and classic tales which were popular at the time, from Washington Irving to the Brothers Grimm, Peter Pan to his exquisite work on the Alice in Wonderland. His water-colour work, and the graceful power of his ink and line work influenced the Golden Age illustrators of the 1920s, through to the pulps of Weird Tales, and the comic books of today. Arthur Rackham: Masterpieces of Art is a celebration of this industrious and lively artist.

Presents 17 fairy tales accompanied by illustrations to be colored.

Images from a broad span of Rackham's career include Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and some rarely seen magazine work.