Cloth binding for ‘The Song of Solomon’

Herbert Granville Fell (1872–1951)

1897

Cloth binding gilt

Signed

This imposing design exemplifies Fell’s intermingling of Arts and Crafts, Pre-Raphaelite and Art Nouveau styles. The paired figures are typical of the artist’s otherworldly treatment of female beauty, an approach that recalls the Pre-Raphaelite ‘stunners’ painted by D. G. Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones. [Commentary continues below.]

Scan and text by Simon Cooke [Click on image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.]