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102 RACKHAM, Arthur. “As I was going to St Ives”. 1913 Original artwork including the artist’s self-portrait – the first piece in the artist’s October 1913 exhibition Published within Mother Goose in 1913. This detailed watercolour was originally reproduced opposite page 126 and is one of the 13 colour plates. It was also reproduced in the St Nicholas magazine (in monochrome) in June 1913. Fred Gettings, in his study of Arthur Rackham, states that this illustration shows “a situation which is almost akin to a schizophrenic’s dream” (p. 132). James Hamilton notes that the artist effectively personalized Mother Goose , “by means of his self-portrait appearing in decorated initials such as the letter I, in illustrations such as ‘As I was going to St. Ives . . . ’, and
in the use of 16 Chalcot Gardens [the artist’s home] as the model for ‘The House that Jack Built’ . . . Whether he liked it or not, Rackham’s reputation as a benign and other-worldly gnome-figure, and as the creator of such subjects, was being emphasised again to market him and his personality” (p. 107–8). Original drawing (242 × 190 mm) on artist’s board (265 × 190 mm with “West’s Prepared Watercolour Board” printed on reverse), fine ink and watercolour, signed and dated (“Arthur Rackham 1912”) lower left, verse on four lines below mount, reverse with “Nursery Rhymes”, verse, artist’s name and address in the artist’s hand, mounted, framed, and glazed (framed size 400 × 337 mm). Some traces of former mount to extremities; a fine and unfaded watercolour. ¶ Fred Gettings, Arthur Rackham , 1976; James Hamilton, Arthur Rackham: A Life with Illustration , 1990. Exhibited: Leicester Galleries, London, October 1913, item 1. £50,000 [154966]
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103 RACKHAM, Arthur (illus.); MILTON, John. “No goblin, or swart faery of the mine”. 1914 A FINE Original WATERCOLOUR Published within Rackham’s edition of John Milton’s Comus in 1921. The plate appears as one of the three illustrations after page 36 and is one of the 24 colour plates. The board has the title added in the artist’s hand, together with identification of the book and the artist’s signature. Heinemann had planned to publish an illustrated edition of Comus in 1914 but due to “the uncertainties of publishing as the war began”, it was postponed until 1921. Writing on
“Rackham’s Best Book Illustrations”, Fred Gettings notes that Rackham’s style was beginning to soften: “the pictures are tending to be less coloured drawings and are gradually becoming more and more like paintings” (p. 139). Original drawing (275 × 194 mm) on card, laid down on board, fine ink and watercolour, signed and dated (“Arthur Rackham 1914”) lower right, inscribed with title and additionally signed below mount, mounted, framed, and glazed (framed size 450 × 357 mm). Fine and unfaded. ¶ Fred Gettings, Arthur Rackham , 1976; James Hamilton, Arthur Rackham: A Life with Illustration , 1990, p. 107. Exhibited: Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 5 January – 17 February 1974, item 14. £40,000 [153857]
All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
CHILDREN’S BOOKS & ORIGINAL ARTWORK
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