Christian slaying Apollon
Book Illustration
1910 (made)
1910 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This illustration, for Pilgrim's Progress (1910), dates from the early part of Papé's career when his work was characterised by his use of colour. He tended to work in black and white after the First World War. He always painted from imagination, combining fantasy and a sense of drama.
Papé first illustrated fairytales in the 1890s, but became famous for his satirical illustrations in the 1920s, starting with James Branch Cabell's Jurgen. Jurgen was an ironic fantasy novel set in the middle ages, which, because of its erotic symbolism, was subject of an obscenity trial in 1919. When it was eventually published, in 1921, it sold out on the first day. Papé's illustrations sparked a cult following for his work.
Papé first illustrated fairytales in the 1890s, but became famous for his satirical illustrations in the 1920s, starting with James Branch Cabell's Jurgen. Jurgen was an ironic fantasy novel set in the middle ages, which, because of its erotic symbolism, was subject of an obscenity trial in 1919. When it was eventually published, in 1921, it sold out on the first day. Papé's illustrations sparked a cult following for his work.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Christian slaying Apollon (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour, pencil, pen and ink on paper, pasted onto card |
| Brief description | Book illustration to Pilgrim's Progress, 'Christian slaying Apollon', by Frank Papé, in watercolour, pencil,pen and ink on paper, 1910. |
| Physical description | Painting depicting a battle between a demon and a knight. The demon leaps backwards as he is struck by the knight's sword. A streak of fire shoots through the demon's hand. More demons watch in the background. In the foreground a snake with a human skull lies dead under a boulder. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Frank C. Papé (1) Signature; bottom left of image; ink) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan |
| Summary | This illustration, for Pilgrim's Progress (1910), dates from the early part of Papé's career when his work was characterised by his use of colour. He tended to work in black and white after the First World War. He always painted from imagination, combining fantasy and a sense of drama. Papé first illustrated fairytales in the 1890s, but became famous for his satirical illustrations in the 1920s, starting with James Branch Cabell's Jurgen. Jurgen was an ironic fantasy novel set in the middle ages, which, because of its erotic symbolism, was subject of an obscenity trial in 1919. When it was eventually published, in 1921, it sold out on the first day. Papé's illustrations sparked a cult following for his work. |
| Bibliographic reference | Bunyan, John. Pilgrim's Progress. London, Dent, 1910. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.488-1981 |
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| Record created | January 6, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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