A wonderful original work by the gifted and prolific English-born American illustrator Louis Rhead, this showcases four vignette images which appeared as the frontispiece and chapter letter headings from the 1916 Harper & Brothers published edition of The Arabian Nights. Scheherazade is shown with a long-necked lute, depicted in an ornate costume in this india ink greyscale illustration. This is framed in an antique art nouveau bat wing gesso frame.
Here are a few other examples of Louis Rhead cover and poster designs in a Belle-Epoque, Alphonse Mucha stylized Art Nouveau aesthetic. Original pen & ink works and watercolors by this artist are very scarce.
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