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Christian slaying Apollon

Book Illustration
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.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleChristian 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
  • Height: 42.2cm
  • Width: 31.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
Frank C. Papé (1) Signature; bottom left of image; ink)
Subjects depicted
Literary referencePilgrim'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 createdJanuary 6, 2004
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