Art

Published within Goble's edition of Charles Kingsley's The Water-Babies (Macmillan, 1909), opposite page 201. The Sphere chose this illustration for a feature on "Beautiful Christmas Books for Young and Old" published on 4 December 1909. Kingsley's story, which the author described as "all a fairy tale, and only fun and pretense" was first published in 1863. As noted by Alan Horne, "strongly influenced by Oriental art, Goble's colour washes are extremely subtle. He... illustrated books of fairy and adventure stories and he is best known today for the charm of these illustrations" (Horne, p. 220). A review of Goble's illustrated edition in the Pall Mall Magazine stated "Warwick Goble has illustrated with much delicacy and fancy Kingsley's Water-Babies, a classic, of course. 'Tis a sumptuous book indeed..." Original drawing (320 x 238 mm) on paper professionally removed from artist's board (346 x 238 mm). Drawn in ink and watercolour, signed lower right ("Warwick Goble"). Mounted, framed and glazed (framed size 528 x 425 mm). Unfaded and bright, some minor toning: a fine watercolour.