Mr. J. D. Batten, Mr. H. J. Ford, and Mr. H. R. Millar represent, in
various ways, the modern art of fairy-tale illustration at its best.
Mr. Batten's connection with Mr. Joseph Jacob's treasuries of
fairy-lore, Mr. Ford's long record of work in the multicoloured fairy
and true story books edited by Mr. Lang, and the drawings of Mr. Millar
in various collections of fairy tales, entitle them to a foremost place
among contemporary illustrators of the world's immortal
wonder-stories.
Mr. Batten knows the rules of chivalry, of sentiment, humour, and
horridness, as they exist in the magical convention of the real
fairy-tales, and whether their purpose be merry or sad, heroic or
grotesque, he illustrates the old tales of Celt and Saxon, of India,
Arabia and Greece with appreciation of the largeness and splendour of
their conception. One might wish for more vitality in his women, and
think that a representation of the mournful beauty of Deirdre, the
passion of Circe or of Medea, should differ from the untroubled
sweetness of the King's daughter of faery. Still one appreciates the
dignity of these smooth-browed women, and, after all, the passionate
figures of Greek and Celtic epics need translation before they can
figure in fairy-tale books. Mr. Batten's ideas are never trite and
never morbid. His giants are gigantic, his monsters of true devastating
breed, and his drawings--especially the later ones--are as able
technically as they are apt to the occasion.
[Illustration: FROM MR. BATTEN'S 'INDIAN FAIRY TALES.'