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Jessie M King Collection

As you make your way through this page, you will have the opportunity to consider the more than 250 antique

and vintage images from Jessie M King in our collection.

The contributions from Jessie M King are drawn from her illustrations shown on pristine 1st Edition plates. Illustrations

shown include:

• illustrations from a suite prepared to accompany The Light of Asia;

• illustrations to accompany Wynken, Blynken and Nod;

• The Dance of the White Rose;

• The Romance of the Swan's Nest;

• the suite of images for Poems of Spenser;

• the suite of images for Poems of Shelley;

• King's illustrations for Isabella; or, The Pot of Basil;

• King's suite of images for Seven Happy Days;

• King's illustrations for A Carol: Good KingWenceslas; and

• King's suite of images for The Enchanted Capital of Scotland.

They contain many wonderful and powerful images.

One of 6 colour images	One monotone images	One of 6 colour images	One of 8 monotone images
Isabella, or the Pot of Basil		Seven Happy Days suite

As enthusiasts, while preparing these illustrations in the largest size possible, we appreciate the desirability of replicating

the line, form, colour and finish of these wonderful images just as they would have appeared to King. To that end,

throughout the page that follows, we have shown images optimised for reproduction in larger formats - usually in a

manner pleasing for 10 x 13" or 10 x 15" framing options. We consider those formats identified to be the largest that

allows the accurate reproduction of form, line and colour as prepared by King and originally printed in the 1st Edition

plates. To reproduce the images, we have utilised a high definition capture and reproduction technique and ensure that

the prints are displayed with a satin finish that reproduces the visual appearance of the original plates.

Purchasing one, or more, of those reproductions is a simple as clicking on the "Add to Cart" buttons and following the

prompts provided for PayPal purchase.

We have also developed a range of Giftware that includes images reproduced on cards, infants' clothing, T-shirts and

unmatted, matted or framed prints (8x6", 10x8", 12x10", 15x10" and 30 x 20" images sizes). Pricing starts at US$4 for single

Gift Cards (US$18 for select packs of 6) and 10 x 8" prints (double-matted and framed) begin at US$60. Further details on

those reproduction images are available at the Giftware section of this site.

Should you wish to discuss an order, please contact us at  ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com referencing your request with

the Stock Code of the plate, or plates in question and a brief description.

In the meantime, enjoy browsing our selection of genuine vintage and antique plates.

The Artwork of Jessie M King
 

Jessie M King (1875-1949) was a Scottish painter and book illustrator who brought influences arising from the Glasgow School

of Arts to both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements - she has been referred to as the foremost Scottish book designer

and illustrator of the 20th Century.

King gained a number of awards for her work while still a student at the Glasgow School of Arts and in 1902, her binding for

L'Evangile de L'Enfance took the Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Art held in Turin.

The Light of Asia (1898)

The suite of images shown was inspired by The Light of Asia (an Epic poem telling stories from the life of Buddha) and was

prepared by King when she was still a student at the Glasgow School of Art.

When the outline designs were published in the June 1898 edition of The Studio, they were accompanied by the following

comment:

The treatment lifts the incidents which she has chosen to represent altogether out of the

commonplace, and invests them with a dignity befitting the subject of the poem. While

the figure is idealised, it is drawn with a knowledge of form and refinement of line that

disarm criticism and command admiration. The scene in which Buddha (Siddartha) protects

the bird his cousin has wounded, has a charm and Oriental grace which make it a most

pleasing and worthy interpretation of the lines in Sir Edwin Arnold's book. And in view of

Buddha's "motionless" vigils, a singularly appropriate convention is the halo of whirling

birds, who have no fear of him, so entirely is he in harmony with them and with nature

herself. The designs generally appear to us to reveal much artistic power and feeling; while

they are representative of the tendencies of this younger school, and share it conventionalisation

and symbolism, there is withal a human sweetness not often allied with work so abstracted

and idealised in character.

Yasodmara sobbing fell upon his feet and lay     Code: JMK LA 1

Siddartha laid the bird's neck beside his own cheek     Code: JMK LA 2

Oft times he mused as motionless as the fixed rock     Code: JMK LA 3

---

 

Wynken, Blynken and Nod (1898)

 

The suite of images shown was inspired by Eugene Field's lullaby, Wynken, Blynken and Nod.

 

When the designs were published in the October 1898 edition of The Studio, they were accompanied by the following

comment:

Nothing could be finer than the way in which she was etherealised the dreamy confusion,

the delightful nonsense of Eugene Field's lullaby, "Wynken, Blynken and Nod," the fishermen

three.

Wynken, Blynken and Nod one night sailed off in a wooden shoe ...     Code: JMK WBN 1

All night long their nets they threw for the fish in the twinkling foam ...     Code: JMK WBN 2

The Dance of the White Rose (1901)

The Romance of the Swan's Nest (1902)

Poems of Spenser (1906)

The illustrations by King - highlighted by silver- and gold-gilt and rose accents - are gorgeous and capture the themes identified by Yeats in the Elizabethan work of Spenser wonderfully.

Poems of Shelley (1907)

The illustrations by King - highlighted by silver- and gold-gilt and rose accents - accompany the beautiful work of Shelley in a magical manner.

Isabella, or The Pot of Basil (1907)

One of 6 colour images	One monotone image

Isabella, or The Pot of Basil is the work of one of the leading poets from the English Romantic movements, John Keats (1795-1821). Keats body of work had influence far beyond his short life, including on the subsequent work of Alfred Tennyson and Pre-Raphaelite artists.

The illustrations by King are sublime and complement the poetry of Keats wonderfully.

Seven Happy Days (1913)

One of a number of colour images	One of a number of monotone images

King's exquisitely delicate contributions to Seven Happy Days were published in a special New Year's Supplement to both The Studio and The International Studio magazines in late 1913 (the supplement was actually for the 1914 New Year). Each full-page plate is sumptuously applied with Silver and Gold highlights.

The illustrations accompany lovely quotes from, among others, John Davidson.

A Carol: Good King Wenceslas (1920)

A rare copy of A Carol: Good King Wenceslas - illustrated by King and published by Leopold B Hill (London) in 1920. Printing for this rare Edition was undertaken by Edmund Evans.   To the left, we show the paste-down applied to the front cover of this edition. That paste-down is repeated on the Title Page.   On the right, we show the Title Page with the repeated paste-down first appearing on the cover, in addition to the Christmas message.

The classic Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas, is brought to life in wonderful illustrations by Jessie M King in this wonderful

low volume printing published in, or about, 1920.

Colour illustration     Code: JMK GKW 1	Good King Wencesalas (Carol)     Code: JMK GKW 2	Good King Wenceslas (Score)     Code: AR GKW 3

Good King Wenceslas     Code: JMK GKW 4	Good King Wenceslas look out On the Feast of Stephen     Code: JMK GKW 5	When a poor man came in sight Gathering winter fuel     Code: AR GKW 6

Hither, Page, and stand by me, If thou knowest it telling, Yonder Peasant, who is he, Where and what his dwelling?     Code: JMK GKW 7	Sire, he lives a good league hence, Underneath the Mountain; Right against the forest fence By Saint Agnes' Fountain     Code: JMK GKW 8	Bring me Flesh and bring me Wine, Bring me Pine-logs hither     Code: AR GKW 9

Page and Monarch forth they went, Forth they went together     Code: JMK GKW 10	Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer     Code: JMK GKW 11	Mark my footsteps, my good Page, Tread thou in them boldly     Code: AR GKW 12

In his master's steps he trod Where the snow lay dinted, Heat was in the very sod Which the Saint had printed     Code: JMK GKW 13	Ye who now do bless the poor Shall yourselves find Blessing     Code: JMK GKW 14

The Enchanted Capital of Scotland (1945)

One of the 4 double-page colour illustrations		One of a number of monotone images

The Enchanted Capital of Scotland is a story attributed to a Merchant of Edinburgh - identified as Noel G Fyfe - but retold in words by Isobel K C Steele.

The illustrations accompanying the tale are the second-to-last suite contributed to an illustrated book prior to King's death. Her contributions - in both colour and monotone are extensive with almost each of the 54 pages illustrated with monotone images in addition to 4 double-page colour illustrations.

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Last modified: 06/29/08