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Walter Crane
(1845-1915)
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Princess Belle Etoile
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Think that you may own a painting by Walter Crane? We
authenticate, appraise and issue Certificates of
Authenticity (COA) to all paintings by Walter Crane. |
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Horses of Neptune
The
Renaissance of Venus
Venus and Cupid
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Walter Crane was an English golden age illustrator and
artist, and was a member of the Arts and Crafts
movement. He was an illustrator of children’s books and
also created paintings, drawings, pottery, ceramic
tiles, textiles, wallpaper and other decorative arts. He
was one of the most prominent artists of his time and
became known for his whimsical style, which included
allegorical paintings created in a variety of mediums
and materials. |
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Art
and Life
Portrait of a Lady
Signs of Spring
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Crane was born in
Liverpool, the son of portrait painter and miniaturist
Thomas Crane, and likely received some of his initial
training from his father. Crane’s earliest influences
were the pre-Raphaelites, and he studied under John
Ruskin. Crane had a number of other influences,
including an apprenticeship with engraver William James
Linton. However, it was perhaps the influence of
Japanese-style woodcuts that influenced Crane’s style
the most, and led him to create some of the most
original and beautiful illustrations of his time. |
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Beauty and the Beast
The Beast
The Frog Prince and
the Maiden
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first success as an artists came with his 1862
illustration “The Lady of Shalott” which he created to
illustrate Tennyson’s work by the same name. |
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The Lady of Shalott
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Although this picture was exhibited at the Royal
Academy, the Academy was steadily refusing his work at
this time. Eventually, Crane stopped submitting his work
for exhibition and increasingly began to work on book
illustrations, particularly for children’s’ stories and
nursery rhymes. |
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Arthur Withdrawing Excalibur from the Stone
Sir Galahad
The Death Journey of the Lily Maid of Astolat
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In 1871, Crane was married and took an extended trip to
Italy. By 1874, Crane had established himself as a well
known book illustrator and was allowed more creative
freedom. His 1874 illustrations for “The Frog Prince”
showed a strong Japanese-style influence |
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The
Frog Prince
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Crane continued to create illustrations for children’s
books, including nursery rhymes for “The Baby’s Opera,”
as well as fairy tales and other stories by famous
authors like Nathaniel Hawthorne. |
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Illustration from Baby’s Opera
Jack and Jill, Baby’s Opera
Buckle My Shoe
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Crane became involved in
the Socialist movement in the 1880’s as a result of his
friendship with writer and decorator William Morris.
Morris introduced Crane into creating art in the form of
textiles, wallpaper and house decoration, all the while
using his art to aide in the Socialist movement. This
included providing cartoons for Socialist publications,
which were eventually collected as “Cartoons for the
Cause.” Crane also spent much of his time working for
the Art Workers Guild, and it is said that he was more
focused on achieving the ideals of Socialism through
education, rather than revolution. Through his love of
various mediums and his involvement in Socialism, Crane
eventually became the founder of the Arts and Crafts
Exhibition Society in 1888. Crane also became a member
of the Water Colour Society that same year. |
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Socialist Illustrations
The Faerie Queen
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Though better known for
his lithographs and detailed color illustrations, Crane
also created a number of easel paintings in his mature
years. He exhibited regularly at the New Gallery and the
Grosvenor Gallery. These paintings were primarily
allegorical in subject and featured mythological
characters, as well as landscapes and portraits. |
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The Swan Maidens
Diana and Endymion
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Throughout his life, Crane remained involved in the art
world, and held a number of prestigious positions, such
as the examiner for the Science and Art Department at
the South Kensington Museum, and also as art director
and principal for a number of schools, including the
Royal College of Art. |
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The Pool
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Today, Crane’s work is
one of the most frequently bid on at auction, and is
prized for its beauty and elegance. Still wondering
about an illustration or golden-age style painting in
your family collection? Contact us…it could be by Walter
Crane.
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