Arthur Rackham - ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream''

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"A Midsummer-Night's Dream" (1908)

Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

"A Midsummer-Night's Dream" is a romantic comedy emanating from the genius of William Shakespeare. It tells a tale of four Athenian lovers,

a group of amateur actors and their interactions with the Duke and Duchess of Athens and the fairies who lived in a moonlit forest.

Rackham's illustrations for "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" (1908) capture the dreamy and romantically magical character of Shakespeare's

text brilliantly.

Some example of the critical reception for Rackham's suite of illustrations for Shakespeare's classic appear below.

"He is always at his best when his imagination has run free: he does not illustrate the

play, he prefers to take an idea from the text and turn it into a Rackhamian picture ..."

"The Daily Chronicle"

"... a Rackham tree; one of those trees, gnarled and black and twisted ... sprung from

seed found in the fancies of D�rer .... but appearing as trees that only one man has

ever perceived or drawn ..."

"The Outlook"

"It is not a luxury that spoils us, so much as the frequency of luxury, and when a fine

talent like Mr Rackham's is turned to the production of a beautiful volume once a year,

it is odd that we begin to lose a sense of privilege, and to regard the results as an

annual due ... This is the handsomest version of "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" we

have ever handled."

"The Pall Mall Gazette"

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Cover for Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908), illustrated by Arthur Rackham

On the left, we show a rare copy of "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" - illustrated by Rackham

and produced by William Heinemann (London) in 1908.

This example retains the original decoratively gilt-stamped cream cloth cover.

To the right, we show the decorative

Title Page designed by Rackham.

Title Page for Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908), illustrated by Arthur Rackham

The public reception to Rackham's interpretation of "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" was also successful, both at the time of the First Edition and for the rest of his life. As

noted by Hamilton (1990) in "Arthur Rackham: A Life with Illustration":

By March 1909, three months after the publication, the entire de luxe edition of 1,000 copies had been sold out, and of the 15,000

trade copies, 7,650 had been sold. The English edition remained in print and paid him royalties until the end of his life.

Our Greeting Cards and Fine Art Posters showing Arthur Rackham's
artwork for the First Edition of "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" (1908)

Greeting Card sample showing an image from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908), illustrated by Arthur Rackham

For connoisseurs of Rackham's work, we have prepared sets of 40 Greeting Cards (approximately 7x5" on premium acid-free card stock)

displaying each of his colour images for "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" and on the left, we show an example of how these Greeting Cards

appear.

Code: AR MND CS(40)
Price: US$200.00

When presented on Greeting Cards, these images are prepared as tipped-on plates - in 'hommage' to the hand-crafted approach

typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is hand-finished and the

images are presented on Ivory card stock with an accompanying envelope. The rear of each card carries information about

Arthur Rackham, this wonderful suite and the profiled illustration - we have left the interior of the cards blank so that you may write

your own personal message.

Should you wish to order a reproduction print of one or more of these images, we have provided some options below. Each of our

Fine Art Posters is prepared with archival quality papers and inks - and also accompanied by information about Arthur Rackham,

this suite and the profiled illustration.

To purchase, simply click on the appropriate "Add to Cart" button and you will be taken through to our Shopping Cart secured through

PayPal. Multiple purchases will be consolidated by that feature and shipping and handling costs to any destination in the world are

accommodated by our flat-rate fee of US$20 for every US$200 worth of purchases.

Of course, should you wish to discuss some customised options, we welcome your contact on any matter through

ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com.

In the meantime, enjoy perusing these wonderful images from Arthur Rackham.

Fine Art Poster sample showing an image from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908), illustrated by Arthur Rackham

An example of one of our Fine Art Posters

in a superb 12x18" format

The colour illustrations by Arthur Rackham for the
First Edition of "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Titania lying asleep' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - '... the moon, like a silver bow, New-bent in heaven' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Hermia' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Helena' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Frontispiece

Titania lying asleep

Act I, Scene I

... the moon, like to a silver bow

New-bent in heaven

Act I, Scene I

Hermia

Act I, Scene I

Helena

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 1 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 2 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 3 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 4 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Arthur Rackham - '... where often you and I, Upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie, Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Let me play the lion too' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'How now, spirit! whither wander you?' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'She never had so sweet a changeling' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Act I, Scene I

... where often you and I

Upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie,

Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet

Act I, Scene II

Let me play the lion too

Act II, Scene I

How now, spirit! whither wander you?

Act II, Scene I

She never had so sweet a changeling

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 5 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 6 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 7 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 8 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Arthur Rackham - 'Ane now they never meet in grove or green, By fountain clear, or spangled starlight sheen, But they do square' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Mislead night-wanderers, laughting at their harm?' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'I am that merry wanderer of the night' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - '... Fairies, away! We shal chide downright, if I longer stay' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Act II, Scene I

And now they never meet in grove or green,

By fountain clear, or spangled starlight sheen,

But they do square

Act II, Scene I

Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?

Act II, Scene I

I am that merry wanderer of the night

Act II, Scene I

... Fairies, away!

We shall chide downright, if I longer stay

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 9 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 10 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 11 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 12 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Arthur Rackham - 'To hear the sea-maid's music' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Maidens call it love-in-idleness' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Come, now a roundel' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'And a fairy song' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Act II, Scene I

To hear the sea-maid's music

Act II, Scene I

Maidens call it love-in-idleness

Act II, Scene I

Come, now a roundel

Act II, Scene I

And a fairy song

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 13 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 14 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 15 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 16 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Arthur Rackham - 'Some war with rere-mice for their leathern wings' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'To make my small elves coats' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Never harm, Nor spell nor sharm, Come our lovely lady nigh' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'One aloof stands sentinel' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Act II, Scene II

Some war with rere-mice for their

leathern wings

Act II, Scene II

To make my small elves coats

Act II, Scene II

Never harm,

Nor spell nor charm,

Come our lovely lady nigh

Act II, Scene II

One aloof stands sentinel

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 17 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 18 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 19 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 20 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Arthur Rackham - 'O monstrous! O strange! we are haunted. Pray, masters! fly, masters! Help!' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'O Bottom, thou art changed!' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'I will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Act III, Scene I

O monstrous! O strange! we are haunted.

Pray, masters! fly, masters! Help!

Act III, Scene I

"O Bottom, thou art changed!"

Act III, Scene I

I will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid

Act III, Scene I

What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 21 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 22 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 23 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 24 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Arthur Rackham - 'Enter Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - '... russet-pated choughs, many in sort, Rising and cawing at the gun's report' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Lord, what fools these mortals be!' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Fair Helena, who more engilds the night, Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Act III, Scene I

Enter Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed

Act III, Scene II

... russet-pated choughs, many in sort,

Rising and cawing at the gun's report

Act III, Scene II

Lord, what fools these mortals be!

Act III, Scene II

Fair Helena, who more engilds the night

Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 25 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 26 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 27 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 28 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Arthur Rackham - 'She was a vixen when she went to school' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - '... ghosts, wandering here and there, Troop home to churchyards' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Up and down, up and down, Goblin, lead them up and down' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Never so weary, never so in woe' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Act III, Scene II

She was a vixen when she went to school

Act III, Scene II

... ghosts, wandering here and there,

Troop home to churchyards

Act III, Scene II

Up and down, up and down,

Goblin, lead them up and down

Act III, Scene II

Never so weary, never so in woe

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 29 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 30 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 31 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 32 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Arthur Rackham - 'On the ground, Sleep sound, I'll apply, To your eye, Gentle lover, remedy' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - '... and her fairy sent, To bear him to my bower in fairy land' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Act III, Scene II

On the ground

Sleep sound:

I'll apply

To your eye,

Gentle lover, remedy

Act IV, Scene I

Kill me a red-hipped humble-bee

on the top of a thistle

Act IV, Scene I

Sleep thou, and I will wind

thee in my arms

Act IV, Scene I

... and her fairy sent

To bear him to my bower in fairy land

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 33 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 34 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 35 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 36 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Arthur Rackham - 'We will, fair queen, up to the mountains' top, And mark the musical confusion, Of hounds and echo in conjunction' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - '... Are you sure, That we are awake? It seems to me, That yet we sleep, we dream' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - '... almost fairy time' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Arthur Rackham - 'Through the house give glimmering light, By the dread and drowsy fire' from Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer-Night's Dream'' (1908)

Act IV, Scene I

We will, fair queen, up to the mountain's top

And mark the musical confusion

Of hounds and echo in conjunction

Act IV, Scene I

... Are you sure

That we are awake? It seems to me

That yet we sleep, we dream

Act IV, Scene II

... almost fairy time

Act IV, Scene II

Through the house give glimmering light

By the dread and drowsy fire

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 37 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 38 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 39 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR MND 40 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

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Copyright � 2007 Spirit of the Ages

"A Midsummer-Night's Dream" (1908)

Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

Our Greeting Cards and Fine Art Posters showing Arthur Rackham's artwork for the First Edition of "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" (1908)

The colour illustrations by Arthur Rackham for the First Edition of "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" (1908)

Our Greeting Cards and Fine Art Posters showing Arthur Rackham's
artwork for the First Edition of "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" (1908)

The colour illustrations by Arthur Rackham for the
First Edition of "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" (1908)