Front cover of 'Flora's Feast'

Category

Library Item

Item no

40125

Title

Front cover of 'Flora's Feast', an illustrated children's book

Description

Cover image for 'Flora's Feast', including the subtitle 'A Masque of Flowers', presented by Walter Crane. The image has a wide floral border and is further decorated with swallows and a basket of flowers in the centre.

Artist / maker

Crane, Walter

Date

1902

Size

25.0 x 18.5 cm

Type

Publisher's print

Location

Art and Design Library

The front cover of 'Flora's Feast' primarily shows Crane's interest in the concept of totality in art and design; an approach that had recently been adopted by the Pre-Raphaelites in their book design and by his friend William Morris who went so far as to found Kelmscott Press in 1891 to allow himself more creative control.

The ornamental additions to the text immediately introduce the reader to the joy and natural abundance that the story contains. The border in particular is reminiscent of the intricate floral patterns that functioned as a background to his earlier illustrations, such as those in his 'Queen Summer, or The Journey of the Lily and the Rose' from 1891, however in this instance there is more clarity to the design, again an indication of what follows.

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Related subjects

Agriculture and fisheries > Equipment > Baskets

Animals > Birds > Swallows

Plants > Flowers > Flowers

Sport and leisure > Activities > Reading and books

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