Page 129 - Gullivers

VI. Dublin City Public Libraries’ Swist Collection
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itself an ‘illustrated edition for the rising generation’.
Eighteenth- and early nineteenth- century illustrators of Gulliver remained anonymous; this was the custom before well-known artists turned their attention to illustrating books. The challenge to illustrate the travels began to be taken up by established artists and book illustrators over the last century and a half, resulting
in a significant range of images spanning various artistic styles and fashions, some becoming iconic. No one illustrator is associated with Gulliver’s Travels, readers have their own favourites, often based on childhood reading. Illustrated retellings designed for the entertainment of children are among the most memorable in literature. Artists from many countries have brought their particular visions to the travels and new insights can be gleaned from the varying interpretations. An edition published in 1864 with designs by J.G.Thomson,engraved byW.L.Thomas, robustly depicts key scenes from the book. V.A. Poirson’s charming illustrations with colour wash, originally published in French editions, were published in English in 1886. Not all illustrated editions are geared towards children, many are specifically