Arthur Rackham

by Fred Gettings

First U.S. edition. Biography followed by five appendices giving bibliographical information on Rackham's work. 192 pages. cloth, dust jacket.. 4to..

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[John Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of the biographies of Arthur Rackham (Hudson and Hamilton most often read) focus on the illustrator's life and output, but Gettings' work remains to date the only biography that really offers technical insight into his methods and the way he constructed his illustrations.

I came across this book as a teenager in 1976 and it inspired me to become an illustrator, so it's had a profound effect on my life. Readers may be disappointed in the small number of colour reproductions in this biography, it's not as sumptious as Hamilton. But much more valuable than that, Gettings' insights and critical analysis of the illustrators work is essential reading. On top of the expected run-through of his career and books, a whole chapter is given to "Technique and Style" and another to "Rackham's Imagination". For an artist I'd say this is probably the most insightful assessment of Rackham's work.

[Lino Matteo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arthur Rackham
Fred Gettings
1975


This Arthur Rackham was born into a Dickensian world.

Born September 19, 1867
Died September 6, 1939
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_...
83: The peculiar secret of Rackham’s success in seizing upon the essence f the human and portraying it in animal form…1912 edition of Aesop’s Fables
I would like less words and more illustrations like:


120: The Rhinegold and the Valkyrie 1910 - sorry could not get the picture in but you will have to google it!

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most books about Arthur Rackham fall into two categories; they are either exhibitions of his artwork or collections of stories that he has illustrated (often with a combination of both subjects). Until this volume his biography was often overlooked, with only small details included as descriptive elements to his illustrations. While this is extremely valuble for the multitude of previously unpublished illustrations, the author has chosen to correct the gap in biographical details. He worked extensively with Rackham's descendants and with the large collections of Rackham illustrations around the world to gain access to many rare pictures and to gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the pictures to create what is undoubtedly the authoritative biographical resources.

Interesting features include:
- bibliography of scholarly sources on Rackham
- bibliography of Rackham first edition books
- bibliography of early illustrations published in newspapers/magazines
- discussion of the AR monogram (questionably Rackham's)
- corrections of other biographical sources
- list of original drawings/painting in public collections

[Hugh Coverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a study of Arthur Rackham and his work as a book illustrator. It begins with a short biography of the artist, but concentrates instead on his education as an artist, his work as a journalist artist, and then as an illustrator. The second half of the book focuses on two periods in his book illustrations, and Getting offers up those illustrations he regards as the best of Rackham. What is great about Getting’s study is that he is willing to point out Rackham’s disappointing failures along with his important successes. Earlier I read James Hamilton’s biography of Rackham. The two books compliment each other, and there is a great range of illustrations which do not much overlap.