Walter Crane (1845-1915) was born in Liverpool, England; the second son of Thomas Crane, a portrait painter and miniaturist. He was a fluent follower of the newer art movements and he came to study and appreciate the detailed senses of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and was also a diligent student of the renowned artist and critic John Ruskin. A set of coloured page designs to illustrate Tennyson’s “Lady of Shalott” gained the approval of wood-engraver William James Linton to whom Walter Crane was apprenticed for three years (1859–1862).
For more information on Crane, and for a series on his illustrated books, see “Walter Crane books” in the side index.
This is part 2 of a 6-part series on individual works by Walter Crane:
1877 Portion of wallpaper dado colour print from wood blocks 38.8 x 55.8 cm on paper |
1877 Portion of wallpaper dado colour print from wood blocks, on paper 38.8 x 55.8 cm |
1877 The Renaissance of Venus tempera on canvas 138.4 x 184.1 cm Tate Gallery, London |
1877 The Renaissance of Venus process engraving 5.3 x 7.1 cm |
1877-94 Chapel of St. Mary’s College wood engraving after a painting 16.2 x 12.9 cm |
1878 Almond Blossom and Swallow wallpaper by Jeffrey & Co. colour print from wood blocks 54.3 x 72.5 cm |
1878 Design for a wallpaper depicting almond blossom and wallflowers gouache on paper 37.8 x 53.3 cm |
1878 Portion of a wallpaper frieze colour woodblock print on paper 53.3 x 49 cm |
c1879 Flower Holder decoration taken from an illustration by Crane vitro-porcelain made by Sowerby & Co., Ellison GlassWorks 11 x 8.2 cm |
c1880 Truth and the Traveller process engraving 6.3 x 14.2 cm |
c1880 Man encountering beast in doorway pen and ink on card 30.5 x 24.1 cm |
1880 Art at Home Series pen and ink on paper 31 x 19.1 cm Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art |
1880 Art at Home Series pencil on paper 28.7 x 21.9 cm Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art |
1881 Europa process engraving 6.3 x 19.5 cm |
c1882 Household stories from the collection of the Brothers Grimm Published in London by Macmillan & Co. |
1883 Diana and the Shepherd process engraving 9.6 x 13.4 cm |
1883 Spring process engraving 16.2 x 8.1 cm |
1883-1913 The English Illustrated Magazine advertising poster lithograph 52 x 39.5 cm |
1884 Longman’s Magazine Christmas Number wood engraving |
1884 Pan Pipes pen and black ink and watercolour © The Trustees of the British Museum |
1884 The Bridge of Life process engraving 8.6 x 13.4 cm |
1884 The English Illustrated Magazine No.14 November issue wood engraving |
1884-90 St. Nicholas magazine cover wood engraving Frederick Warne & Co. London |
1884-90 London Pupil Teachers Association Record wood engraving |
1884-90 Time No.8 magazine cover wood engraving |
c1884 Valentine card colour lithograph 24.6 x 20.5 cm |
1885 Freedom process engraving 7.1 x 4.8 cm |
1885 Ruins of the Bishop’s Palace, St. David’s engraving 10.1 x 7.6 cm |
1885 St Davi’s Cathedral, from the Close engraving 10.1 7.6 cm |
c1885 Law Union & Crown Insurance Company colour process engraving advertising life and fire insurance depicting two allegorical figures representing mercy and justice |
c1885 Sun Life Assurance Company lithograph |
1886 “Woodnotes” wallpaper colour woodblock print on paper |
1886 Design for the wallpaper ‘The Golden Age’ watercolour and body-colour on paper 101 x 66.7 cm V&A Musem, London |
1886 Fiametta process engraving 16.5 x 6.6 cm |
1886 Signs of the Times, No 1. “Mrs Grundy frightened at her Shadow.” wood engraving 30.7 x 21 cm |
1886 The Practical Socialist, February issue wood engraving |
c1886 Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society Catalogue lithograph and wood engraving |
c1886 Institute of Painters in Oil Colours 3rd Exhibition Illustrated Catalogue |
c1886 The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours catalogue cover |
1887 Deer and Rabbits wallpaper frieze colour print from wood blocks on paper 50.8 x 70.6 cm |
1887 Echoes of Hellas by Professor G C Warr and Walter Crane design for a book cover? © The Trustees of the British Museum |
1887 The British Empire furnishing fabric made by Edmund Potter & Co. 79.4 x 36 cm |
1887 The Chariots of the Hour process engraving 7.1 x 19.8 cm |
1887 The Golden Age wallpaper colour woodblock print on paper 85.1 x 49.2 cm |
1887 The Golden Age wallpaper colour woodblock print on paper 116.9 x 54 cm |
1887 The Hour Glass monthly magazine September issue |
1887 Wall covering “The Golden Age” embossed leather with brown-and-gold lacquer 79.4. x 59.1 cm |
c1887 Design for the cover of a wallpaper brochure for Jeffrey & Co. 38.3 x 28 cm V&A Museum, London |