Doré's Illustrations for "Idylls of the King"

by Gustave Doré

Chivalry and romance of the Middle Ages, dramatically and powerfully depicted in 36 splendid illustrations, recapture the romance of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the love story of Lancelot and Guinevere, the tale of the fair Elaine, and more. Accompanied by appropriate quotes from Tennyson's poem.

Genres: Art, Poetry, Nonfiction, Mythology

80 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 1995

About the author

The most popular and successful French book illustrator of the mid 19th century. Doré became very widely known for his illustrations to such books as Dante's Inferno (1861), Don Quixote (1862), and the Bible (1866), and he helped to give European currency to the illustrated book of large . He was so prolific that at one time he employed more than forty blockcutters. His work is characterized by a rather naïve but highly spirited love of the grotesque and represents a commercialization of the Romantic taste for the bizarre. Drawings of London done in 1869-71 were more sober studies of the poorer quarters of the city and captured the attention of van Gogh. In the 1870s he also took up painting (doing some large and ambitions religious works) and sculpture (the monument to the dramatist and novelist Alexandre Dumas in the Place Malesherbes in Paris, erected in 1883, is his work).

Reviews

[Wetdryvac Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working largely with the illustrations, a most excellent experience.

[Danielle Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dore's beautiful illustrations capture the story perfectly. My only complaint is they are a little too dark and so the picture is not illuminated as well.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always liked Dore's illustrations. These are the perfect combination of Victorian look of the Middle Ages and Tennyson's Arthurian poems. With excerpts of the poetry and plot synopses for each picture. Very different (and probably almost as authentic) as the Late 20th Century popular concept of the Middle Ages.