DWELLING OF THE OGRE

Original 9 3/4 inch x 7 3/4 inch Engraving titled THE DWELLING OF THE OGRE.

”Through dark forest paths and dreary country ways, Hop o’ my Thumb and his little brothers arrive by night at the house of an ogre – a wild, rocky, weird-looking place, shut in by dusky trees, and partly overgrown with vegetation. At the foot of the external flight of steps stands the ogress, directing a broad stream of light from a lantern on to the queer little party of visitors.”

Illustration by Gustave Doré (1832 – 1883). The most popular and successful French book illustrator of the middle of the 19th century. Doré became widely known for his illustrations to such books as Danté’s Inferno (1861), Don Quixote (1862), and the Bible (1866), and he helped to give European currency to the illustrated book of large format. He was so prolific that at one time he employed more than forty wood engravers. His work is characterized by an eclectic mix of Michelangelesque nudes, northern traditions of sublime landscape, and a highly spirited love of the grotesque and bizarre.

Engraved by Heliodore Joseph Pisan (1822 – 1890). Pisan, born in Marseilles, was a painter, watercolourist, engraver, illustrator, lithographer of genre scenes, landscapes and still-lifes. He exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1849 and was made a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur. He produced mainly book illustrations, notably Don Quixote in 1861, The Bible after the work of Gustave Doré.

Illustration from “Fairy Realm: a Collection of the Favourite Old Tales Told in Verse” published in 1865.

This edition from Cassell’s ‘Doré Gallery’ published in 1885.

Page size 12 1/4 inch x 9 1/8 inch

The engraving is in very good condition. Reverse side blank.