Books

Published within Rackham's edition of John Milton's Comus in 1921. The plate appears as one of the three illustrations after page 36 and is one of the 24 colour plates. The board has the title added in the artist's hand, together with identification of the book and the artist's signature. Heinemann had planned to publish an illustrated edition of Comus in 1914 but due to "the uncertainties of publishing as the war began", it was postponed until 1921. Writing on "Rackham's Best Book Illustrations", Fred Gettings notes that Rackham's style was beginning to soften: "the pictures are tending to be less coloured drawings, and are gradually becoming more and more like paintings". Original drawing (275 x 194 mm) on card, laid down on board, fine ink and watercolour, signed and dated ("Arthur Rackham 1914") lower right, inscribed with title and additionally signed below mount, mounted, framed, and glazed (framed size 450 x 357 mm). Fine and unfaded. James Hamilton, Arthur Rackham: a life with illustration, 1990, p. 107; Fred Gettings, Arthur Rackham, 1976, pp. 139. Exhibited: Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 5 January - 17 February 1974, item 14.

Comus: A Mask, also known as simply Comus, is a masque written by John Milton in 1634. It was first presented on Michaelmas night, September 29, 1634, before John Egerton, the Earl of Bridgewater, at Ludlow Castle in celebration of his inauguration as Lord President of Wales. Known for its themes of chastity and virtue, the narrative of Comus follows the Lady who is lost in the woods and tempted by the enchanter Comus. Her virtue and steadfastness against seduction are celebrated in the masque.