DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36582#0053
THE DO RE GALLERY.
27
The utmost triumph of burlesque is reached in the illustrations to “ Baron Munc-
hausen.” They overflow with oddity and fun, and many of them touch upon the borders of
imaginative grandeur. The volume gives us a veritable glimpse into wonder-land ; or rather
a number of glimpses, ascending higher and higher up the cloudy rack of fancy. Munc-
hausen is a creation of genius, and we here go with him in all his glorious ways, and
participate in his adventures to their utmost ecstacy of lying.
Such is the genius of Gustave Dore, and such are some of its main achievements.
When we glance rapidly over the field that has just been traversed, the variety of its riches
cannot fail to strike the mind. Dante and Munchausen—-Milton and the fairy tales of the
nursery—the Bible and “Don Quixote”—“La Fontaine” and “The Wandering Jew”-—“Atala”
and “ Croquemitaine : ” what strange contrasts are here! and what wonderful plasticity of
mind, wealth of imagination, and breadth of sympathy must that man possess who is at
home in such widely different countries ! Much, however, yet remains to be conquered.
It is true that M. Dore has done enough for a life of eighty years ; but he is still in his
prime, and we may reasonably hope for many more productions of his pencil. The “ Arabian
Nights ” is to be his next work, and countless other creations of genius still await his
hand. A “ Dore Shakespeare ” has been talked of for some years, and we can all understand
what pictures of Prospero’s island, and of the moonlit groves of Oberon and Titania, such
a book would contain, however much the artist’s interpretation of the purely human element
in the great dramatist might contradict our English sense of what would be appropriate.
In Goethe’s “Faust” M. Dore would find a most congenial theme, by no means exhausted
by the splendid designs of Retzsch. The “ Pilgrim’s Progress,” “ Robinson Crusoe,” the
“ Faery Oueene,” Coleridge’s “ Ancient Mariner,” the poems and novels of Sir Walter Scott,
the works of Byron—all these abound in materials for the facile handling of the illustrious
French book-illustrator. The classics of his own country he does not seem to favour in
an equal degree with foreigners—perhaps because they are not so rich in pictorial sugges-
tiveness ; but he will probably find some mines in that territory also, besides what he has
already explored. At any rate, he has earned a magnificent reputation by the work of the
past; his name is a familiar sound all over the civilised world, conjuring up, as by a talis-
man, associations of beauty and grandeur, of humour, drollery, and fun ; and it cannot be
doubted that, if life and health are granted him, he will make many more claims upon our
gratitude, and move our astonishment and delight by new creations and yet fairer forms.
27
The utmost triumph of burlesque is reached in the illustrations to “ Baron Munc-
hausen.” They overflow with oddity and fun, and many of them touch upon the borders of
imaginative grandeur. The volume gives us a veritable glimpse into wonder-land ; or rather
a number of glimpses, ascending higher and higher up the cloudy rack of fancy. Munc-
hausen is a creation of genius, and we here go with him in all his glorious ways, and
participate in his adventures to their utmost ecstacy of lying.
Such is the genius of Gustave Dore, and such are some of its main achievements.
When we glance rapidly over the field that has just been traversed, the variety of its riches
cannot fail to strike the mind. Dante and Munchausen—-Milton and the fairy tales of the
nursery—the Bible and “Don Quixote”—“La Fontaine” and “The Wandering Jew”-—“Atala”
and “ Croquemitaine : ” what strange contrasts are here! and what wonderful plasticity of
mind, wealth of imagination, and breadth of sympathy must that man possess who is at
home in such widely different countries ! Much, however, yet remains to be conquered.
It is true that M. Dore has done enough for a life of eighty years ; but he is still in his
prime, and we may reasonably hope for many more productions of his pencil. The “ Arabian
Nights ” is to be his next work, and countless other creations of genius still await his
hand. A “ Dore Shakespeare ” has been talked of for some years, and we can all understand
what pictures of Prospero’s island, and of the moonlit groves of Oberon and Titania, such
a book would contain, however much the artist’s interpretation of the purely human element
in the great dramatist might contradict our English sense of what would be appropriate.
In Goethe’s “Faust” M. Dore would find a most congenial theme, by no means exhausted
by the splendid designs of Retzsch. The “ Pilgrim’s Progress,” “ Robinson Crusoe,” the
“ Faery Oueene,” Coleridge’s “ Ancient Mariner,” the poems and novels of Sir Walter Scott,
the works of Byron—all these abound in materials for the facile handling of the illustrious
French book-illustrator. The classics of his own country he does not seem to favour in
an equal degree with foreigners—perhaps because they are not so rich in pictorial sugges-
tiveness ; but he will probably find some mines in that territory also, besides what he has
already explored. At any rate, he has earned a magnificent reputation by the work of the
past; his name is a familiar sound all over the civilised world, conjuring up, as by a talis-
man, associations of beauty and grandeur, of humour, drollery, and fun ; and it cannot be
doubted that, if life and health are granted him, he will make many more claims upon our
gratitude, and move our astonishment and delight by new creations and yet fairer forms.