Walter Crane
Walter Crane (1845-1915) was an influential English artist and illustrator, renowned for his vast contribution to children's book illustration and also the arts and crafts movement in the late 19th century.
Born in August 1845 in Liverpool, Crane was the second son of the portrait painter Thomas Crane. He displayed artistic talent from a young age and was apprenticed to the wood engraver William James Linton, which significantly shaped his career.
Crane's work is characterised by its intricate detail, vivid colours and allegorical themes. He was heavily influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the works of John Ruskin and William Morris, who championed the return to handcrafted art and design.
Crane's illustrations, particularly in children's books, are some of his most enduring works.
A prominent figure in the arts and crafts movement, Crane believed in the unity of art and craft, advocating for the integration of beautiful design into everyday objects. His designs extended beyond books to wallpapers, textiles and ceramics, contributing significantly to the decorative arts of the period.
He was also a socialist, and his political beliefs permeated his art, often reflecting themes of social justice and equality.
One of Crane's notable achievements was his role as a founder member of the Art Workers' Guild in 1884, and later, the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, which he chaired in 1888. His influence extended to the public sphere through his work with these organisations, promoting the values of craftsmanship and artistic integrity.
Crane was controversial in his support of the four Chicago anarchists executed in 1887 in connection with the Haymarket affair. Visiting the United States for the first time in connection with an exhibition of his work in 1891, Crane scandalised polite society by appearing at a Boston anarchist meeting and expressing the opinion that the Haymarket defendants had been put to death wrongfully.
Returning to his hotel, Crane found a letter stating that he faced 'hopeless ruin' among American patrons of the arts owing to his support of those who were commonly considered to be terrorist conspirators in public opinion of the day. Financial support was withdrawn and planned dinners in Crane's honour were cancelled. In response to the controversy, Crane wrote a letter to the press explaining that he had not meant to cause insult and did not himself favour the use of explosives, but had merely been expressing his principled opinion that those convicted were innocent of the crime for which they were charged.
The incident was memorialised in the press as 'probably the most dramatic episode' in the artist's career. Crane publicly criticised the British government for the Second Boer War and joined the Stop the War Committee.
Crane's legacy is vast, and his work continues to be celebrated for its beauty, innovation and social relevance. His blend of artistic skill and social consciousness helped shape the visual culture of his time and inspired future generations of artists and designers.
Images to download
See below to download artwork produced by Walter Crane. Click on each item for more information.
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1 2 Buckle my Shoe 1869 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 8 images
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Absurd ABC, The 1897 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 9 images
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Aladdin c.1875 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 4 images
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Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, 1898 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 11 images
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Alphabet of Old Friends 1874 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 8 images
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Art of Walter Crane, The 1902 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 6 images
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Baby's Bouquet, The 1878 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 60 images
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Baby's Opera, The 1900 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 51 images
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Baby's Own Aesop, The 1887 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 60 images
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Beauty & the Beast 1875 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 7 images
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Bluebeard 1873 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 9 images
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Cinderella Picture Book, The 1911 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 24 images
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Don Quixote 1919 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 12 images
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Fairy Ship, The 1900 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 10 images
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Farm yard Alphabet 1865 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 8 images
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Floral Fantasy in an Old English Garden, A 1899 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 51 images
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Flower Wedding, A 1905 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 37 images
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Flowers from Shakespeare's Garden 1909 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 40 images
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Frog Prince, The 1874 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 6 images
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Gaping Wide-mouth Frog 1910 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 8 images
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Golden Primer 1884, The - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 28 images
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Goody Two Shoes 1900 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 9 images
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Grammar in Rhyme 1868 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 9 images
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Hind in the Wood, The 1875 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 7 images
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King Arthur's Knights 1911 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 16 images
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King Luckie Boy's Party 1900 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 10 images
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Legends for Lionel 1887 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 41 images
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Little Red Riding Hood 1875 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 9 images
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Masque of Days, A 1901 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 48 images
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Mother Hubbard 1897 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 9 images
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My Mother 1897 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 9 images
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Pan Pipes 1883 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 54 images
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Princess Belle-Etoile 1909 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 6 images
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Puss in Boots 1900 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 11 images
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Queen Summer 1891 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 42 images
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Romance of 3 Rs 1886 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 52 images
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Sing a Song of Sixpence 1909 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 8 images
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Slate & Pencil-vania 1885 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 27 images
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Sleeping Beauty 1911 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 24 images
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This Little Pig 1870 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 10 images
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Three Bears, The 1896 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 11 images
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Valentine & Orson 1900 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 11 images
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Walter Crane's Painting Book 1889 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 24 images
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Wonder Book for Girls & Boys, A 1884 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 19 images
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Yellow Dwarf, The 1875 - Walter Crane (1845-1915) - 7 images
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Public Domain Copyright Rules
The pictures in our art collections are out of copyright in both the UK and the United States. Both countries have had quite different copyright criteria up until recently so read our blog post about public domain copyright rules in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries.