John Austen - Art Nouveau Illustrator influenced by Aubrey Beardsley

John Austen

1886-1948

This post looks at one of the Golden Age's least known illustrators and yet one of the most artful.

The Golden Age of Illustration ran from approximately 1870 until 1920 and was a time when books were illustrated with the effort and talent seen in matserpeice artworks. Top nakes included Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac. 

John Austen produced relatively few artworks, dedicating his time and skill to each work to truly make it his own. He was heavily influenced by the art-nouveau illustrator Aubrey Beardsley whose works were sometimes macabre and sometimes erotic.

Below are two of the best

example of Austen's works. Maybe these beautiful images will influence you to go in search of his works.

Everyman

1925

Hamlet

Circa 1920 

 Thanks for reading and I'd love it if you could share this with people who might be interested!

The Most Beautiful Books II - An Antique Books Guide

Here is another blog post solely dedicated to particularly attractive antique books.

These are more than just a story; they are arguably art in their own right, with beautiful gilding and elaborate decoration.

Vintage shabby chic is a fashion that's very much in and with these books you can fit right in with the trend. They brighten up any household and looks great on a bookshelf. Or perhaps you just want some ideas for which books you could purchase?

Take a look below - I've found some of the nicest books around. 

The Pilgrims Progress

John Bunyan

J.M Dent
£10-£20

Travels on the Amazon

Alfred Russell-Wallace
Ward Lock & Co
£15-£25

Book of Gems

Various

Bell and Daldy

£80+

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Jules Verne

Hetzel

£250 circa

The Chiswick Shakespeare (Any Volume)

William Shakespeare

George Bell & Sons

£45+

Vanity Fair

William M Thackeray

Service and Paton

£75+

Queen Mab's Fairy Realm

Various

George Newnes Ltd

£250+

The Vicar of Wakefield

Oliver Goldsmith

Sampson Low, Son & Co

£N/A

Enoch Arden

Lord Tennyson

Edward Moxon & Co

£130+

Thanks for reading and please let me know if you want any help buying any of these books/ other advice!

Bright Binding - The Most Beautiful Books - An Antique Books Guide

Sometimes I like to let the books speak for themselves and this post is one of those times. I want to show you how beautiful old books can be. I'm not talking lovely illustrations and artistic pictures. Just the covers. They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but we all do so judge these and see what you think...

If you want any of these I'm sure I can help find a copy - let me know if you have any questions too!

vaugc002@gmail.com