Antique print - Exquisite "Bellerophon at the Fountain" 1893 Walter Crane A gorgeous, high quality, illustration by one of Britain's most well-respected illustrators and artists of the period. Walter Crane was a painter, decorator, designer, book illustrator, writer and socialist. Born in Liverpool in 1845, his technical background allowed him to develop a much greater craftsmanship in the art of the book than any other contemporary artist. He had the great strength of being principally an illustrator and not merely a painter who illustrated books. The Paris Commune had a powerful influence on him and led to his association with William Morris and the socialist cause.
Although direct followers are hard to pin down, Crane was widely influential and the Crane style appears in the Art School work of the 1890s and 1900s. (Houfe)
Absolutely exquisite detail and colouring to this image of "Bellerophon at the Fountain" - Peirene where he captures Pegasus, with the help of Athena and Poseidon, in order to complete his quest to defeat the chimera. Pegasus allows the hero to ride him but Bellerophon falls off his back trying to reach Mount Olympus.
Pegasus is one of the best known fantastical creatures in Greek mythology. He is a winged divine horse, usually white in color. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. He was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing when his mother was decapitated by Perseus. Greco-Roman poets write about his ascent to heaven after his birth and his obeisance to Zeus, king of the gods, who instructed him to bring lightning and thunder from Olympus. Friend of the Muses, Pegasus is the creator of Hippocrene, the fountain on Mt. Helicon. Zeus transformed him into the constellation Pegasus and placed him in the sky. (Wikipedia) |
