Doré's Dragons, Demons and Monsters (Dover Fine Art, History of Art)

We can dream and shudder about Dragons Demons, and Monsters, but these fantasies and nightmares can be given body only by a truly gifted hand. Dore has that gift, and brings to embodiment these denizens of our darkest fears and nightmares! Dore illustrates our thoughts, and does so in a masterful way! An interesting volume depicting a grand cross-section of his work on these themes, a must-have for your Dore collection! The only thing more frightening would be not owning this wonderful volume!

A collection of illustrations from different books Dore illustraed. Beautiful artwork.

EVERYTHING AMAZING AND PERFECT

I first came across the "art" (Illustration, really) of Gustave Dore at the age of 8 or so when my MAMA bought me an encyclopaedia and 2 of the books were a children's Bible (whatever that is---hopefully heavily edited) with all the illustrations for it by the great Dore.I am not being facetious when I tell you that as a child these were my first encounters with the nude body, again, ETCHED like a bodybuilder's (women were muscular too), as well as all the terrors of the Hebrew Bible but more lavishly so the book of Revelation. Many of the hellish images must have made for some sleepless nights (the magnificent suffering! a masochist's dream!) but more than that I remember vividly the HOURS spent completely absorbed by the beauty and exactness of the line. They were elegant (some still are), and I would say that for that child they were his first "pornography"...Ha!Decades went by and once in a while I would catch a glimpse here and there of Dore and be fascinated, particularly with the memories of long ago brought back into my consciousness.Finally, I came upon this series of reproduced images from all his commissions-----and what commissions!----"Paradise Lost", "The Bible", Dante's "Commedia", "Don Quijote" and more.......Disappointment immediately set in.First, the series has tried its best (I guess) to do a faithful reproduction of these etchings (poor me, I do not know for a fact that these are etchings, or another type of "multiples"------perhaps you out there will tell me?) but the results are mediocre......Dore is all about LINE and the minutely detailed quality of the work. It is extraordinary in its craftsmanship, and there does the problem reside------to be reasonable, one should not expect much from an "artbook" that's a pamphlet and no more than 12 bucks, and so you, forgive the cliche "get what you pay for". You could have perhaps used a great printer and get as good results as these (from good to acceptable to poor).In my case, that perhaps could be overlooked if the REAL problem was not the disappointment with the images.In its introduction, the editor "warns" us that these will stir our imagination....AND....maybe give you a chuckle or two.......Indeed.....Chuckles I did not get, as my memory was fixed on those long-ago hours in which I "stirred" and was terrified by the images.No more. Again, the meticulous craft and "genius" of Dore is still there for me to recognize, but there is nothing beyond that.Well, I am 50. But I presume that a ten year old will not be riveted to these either. Mass media, H.R. Giger (arguably a truly superior illustrator than Dore, when it comes to a magnificent imagination), and this computer-generated era of the most sophisticated "morphs" and more (nothing that I ever care to ever go NEAR) has made us all jaded. Even, alas, the children.My opinion? Don't waste your money. An introduction to Dore? Google it and look at the images first. And, of course, those Dore devotees out there should get every one of the series.Perhaps as part of a great book reproducing the work within the pages of, say, "Don Quijote" which has more than its share of humorous moments, may be the proper context for Dore to still make "sense". But I recently finished reading that whopping 3-tome "Commedia" and his work would have been a mistake to include within the pages of this timeless masterpiece. I would have found them RISIBLE, and detracting from the "sanctity" of Dante's work.When art becomes passe you feel more than a moment of sadness especially with the background I just recounted. More than that, although still in print more than 150 years later, it has become by now more of a curiosity, a window unto the past that was, still a bit touching if always placing it into its proper historical context.Aaah, Dore..............

cause I love it that's why. I guess my previous review did not go through so I am writing another one. great artwork. beautiful.....love love...what can I say mike n catt ^._.^

I purchased a series of Dore collection books for my mother, who is an artist, and has drawn inspiration from Dore's work. Dore's woodcuts are timeless and if this theme appeals to you then you will be very happy.

This book is filled with amazing artwork. I recommend it to anyone who admires Dore's artwork. A great piece to add to any Dore collection.

Want to see how people viewed monsters before the modern age of computers and comic books Need a ghoul? How did they look in the 19th century. If you like myhtology, or the things that go bump in the night here it is. The Dore Illustrations for Dante's Divine ComedyDore's Illustrations for "Paradise Lost" (Dover Pictorial Archives)

Great artist, some very interesting work!!

Exactly as expected

all good

Une bonne référence pour les graveurs ou admirateurs du style de Doré

Ce trés bel album est tout à fait complémentaire du trés beau Catalogue de l'expo actuellement à Paris ( Avril 2013)