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The Marsh King's Daughter

Illustration by Kay Nielsen

This glorious illustration from Nielsen was inspired by the classic tale from "The Marsh King's Daughter", a classic

tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

As is typical in Nielsen's work, he has combined a number of elements of the tale to craft an image of incredible

power, with such elements including: burial mounds; Vikings risen from the dead; dragons and goblins; and the

risen Christian priest and the Marsh King's Daughter. From within the tale, it may be that the image is most closely

linked to the following words:

Then he lifted her on the horse and gave her a golden censer, similar to those she had

already seen at the Viking’s house. A sweet perfume arose from it, while the open wound

in the forehead of the slain priest, shone with the rays of a diamond. He took the cross

from the grave, and held it aloft, and now they rode through the air over the rustling

trees, over the hills where warriors lay buried each by his dead war-horse; and the brazen

monumental figures rose up and galloped forth, and stationed themselves on the summits

of the hills. The golden crescent on their foreheads, fastened with golden knots, glittered

in the moonlight, and their mantles floated in the wind. The dragon, that guards buried

treasure, lifted his head and gazed after them. The goblins and the satyrs peeped out from

beneath the hills, and flitted to and fro in the fields, waving blue, red, and green torches,

like the glowing sparks in burning paper. Over woodland and heath, flood and fen, they

flew on, till they reached the wild moor, over which they hovered in broad circles. The

Christian priest held the cross aloft, and it glittered like gold, while from his lips sounded

pious prayers. Beautiful Helga’s voice joined with his in the hymns he sung, as a child joins

in her mother’s song. She swung the censer, and a wonderful fragrance of incense arose

from it; so powerful, that the reeds and rushes of the moor burst forth into blossom. Each

germ came forth from the deep ground: all that had life raised itself. Blooming water-lilies

spread themselves forth like a carpet of wrought flowers, and upon them lay a slumbering

woman, young and beautiful. Helga fancied that it was her own image she saw reflected

in the still water. But it was her mother she beheld, the wife of the Marsh King, the princess

from the land of the Nile.

The illustration

Complete Image	Single Greeting Card (with matching Envelope) Code: KN MKD SGC Price: US$5.00	Detail (for reference)
	Reproduction on 18 x 24" sheet Code: KN MKD 18x24 Price: US$150.00

Our Greeting Cards

When presented on Greeting Cards, this image is prepared as a tipped-on plate - 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, with the image presented on Ivory card stock with an accompanying envelope. On the rear of each

card we also present some information about Kay Nielsen and this wonderful illustration. We have left the interior

of the cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.

Our large format reproductions

Each of our large format reproductions are prepared with archival quality materials and processes to ensure many years

of enjoyment. In addition, our reproductions are accompanied by explanatory material relating to Kay Nielsen and this

wonderful illustration.

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