A Walter Crane Christmas: Legends for Lionel

Walter Crane, Legends for Lionel. London: Cassell, 1887, pages 24-5. (Cotsen 11587)

On this unseasonably cold fourth day of Christmas 2017, a peek into Walter Crane’s Legends for Lionel should cheer us up for the New Year that is nearly here.  According to the preface, Crane made these drawings for his son Lionel in spare moments on cold winter evenings so the boy could amuse himself coloring.  A book was quickly filled up and when the manuscript was shown to the publisher Cassell, there was no question that it must be printed up for the delight of children outside the Crane family.  A sentimental favorite, may these selections brighten up the holiday..

With his trusty lamp, Lion begins the holiday hunt on page 6.

Lionel hurries out of the cold into the welcoming house on page 9.

Let the revels begin!

Pages 10 and 11.

Page 12.

Page 13.

Page 14.

Page 15.

Page 16.

Page 17.

Childhood Illustrated by Jean-Henri Marlet in Le Bon Genie (1824-1829)

The rather prim illustrated masthead for the French children’s periodical, Le bon genie, gives little indication that nearly every number contained a luminous lithographic plate by Jean-Henri Marlet (1774-1847) during its run between 1824 and 1829.  In 1824, Marlet demonstrated the artistic potential of lithography in an ambitious suite of seventy-two hand-colored plates about all aspects of life in Paris.  He likewise documented French childhood high and low of the late 1820s as the house artist for Le bon genie.

Harlequin, Polichinel, a prince out of the Arabian Nights and more frolic at a fancy dress ball for little ladies and gentlemen. Plate for volume 1, number 39 (January 30 1825). Le Bon Génie. Paris: Louis Colas, 1825. (Cotsen 11897)

Papa shows his family a magic lantern slide illustrating a fable of La Fontaine. Plate for volume 1, number 30 (November 21, 1824). (Cotsen 11897)

The fencing lesson. Plate for volume 5, number 39 (January 23, 1829). (Cotsen 11897)

Hunting for butterflies. The boy in the lower left is pinning specimens on a board. Plate for volume two, number 5 (May 29, 1825). (Cotsen 11897)

A familiy of Savoyards entertain passersby. Plate for volume 2, no. 14 (July 31, 1825). (Cotsen 11897)

The dancing master beats time for his graceful pupils. Plate for volume 5, number 26 (October 26, 1828). (Cotsen 11897)

A troop of elegant dancing dogs. Plate for volume 5, number 45 (March 8, 1829). (Cotsen 11897)

Dance of the marionettes. Plate for volume 2, number 52 (April 23, 1825). (Cotsen 11897)