A Surprise Beside the Fountain - Original Warwick Goble Print

Artist: Warwick Goble (1862-1943)
Date: Illustrations first published in 1911
Publisher: Macmillan and Co., Limited, London
Medium: Original colour book illustration
Paper Size: Approximately 18 cm wide x 25 cm high
Printed Area: Approximately 12 cm wide x 17 cm high
Presentation: Unframed

Condition: Light age toning and scattered small marginal marks. Please examine the photograph for the condition of this individual print.

About the Illustration

A figure in a pink headwrap and patterned blue garment bends towards a pool beneath a flowering tree. High in the branches, another woman reclines among the leaves, while a sculpted fountain and tall irises occupy the right of the scene. Beyond them, cypresses and blue hills create a quiet landscape. The unexpected arrangement of the figures gives the picture its narrative intrigue, with reflections, foliage and flowing water adding to the decorative detail.

About the Artist

Warwick Goble (1862-1943) was a British illustrator whose work ranged from illustrated magazines to richly illustrated books. His skill in watercolour and interest in Japanese and Indian art helped shape a distinctive style, combining delicate colour with flowing line and decorative detail. His imaginative treatment of figures, gardens and landscapes places his work within the Golden Age of British book illustration.