An exceptionally beautiful image illustrating Andersen's 'The Travelling Companion' - the Princess visits the Old Magician - 'Let him have his head cut off'. As always with Clarke, the genius is in the detail - the clothing is exquisite - decorative, fur-topped boots, ruffles, flounces and frills balanced with checks and plaid. Ornate birds and an amazing black feather headdress is worn by the princess. Lovely, rich colouring to this wonderful example of Clarke's art nouveau inspired work - a rare and beautiful print.

'They came into a great hall built of silver and gold; flowers as big as sunflowers, red and blue, shone on the walls; but no one could pluck these flowers, for the stems were ugly poisonous snakes, and the flowers were streams of fire pouring out of their mouths. The whole ceiling was covered with shining glow-worms and sky-blue bats, flapping their thin wings. it looked quite terrific! In the middle of the floor was a throne, carried by four skeleton horses, with harness of fiery red spiders; the throne itself was of milk-white glass, and the cushions were little black mice, biting each other's tails. Above it was a canopy of pink spider's web, trimmed with the prettiest little green flies, which gleamed like jewels. On the throne sat an old magician, with a crown on his ugly head and a sceptre in his hand... Great black grasshoppers played on Jew's harps, and the owl beat her wings upon her body, because she hadn't a drum. That was a strange concert! Little black goblins with a Jack-'o-lantern light on their caps danced about in the hall.'