Walter Crane was one of the most popular and prolific children’s book illustrators in the late 19th century.  His style should be recognizable to almost everyone, whether they know his name or not, and his books have been mainstays for families for generations.

His illustrations here make a nice contrast to those of Virginia Frances Sterrett, who illustrated Hawthornes’ other children’s book derived from Greek mythology.  I have scanned and posted those images, from Tanglewood Tales, as well.

These images have been edited and enhanced to bring out the colors and remove some of the age toning.  The complete text as well as full page, unedited scans, are available at the Library of Congress web site, HERE.

Title: A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Illustrator: Walter Crane
Publisher: Houghton, Mifflin
Date Published: 1892

The Images below all link to the gallery where they are available for free download in many high resolution sizes of JPEG files.

Perseus & The Graiae

Perseus Armed by the Nymphs

Perseus & The Gorgons

Perseus Showing The Gorgons Head

The Stranger Appearing to Midas

The Stranger Appearing to Midas

Midas Daughter Turned to Gold

Midas with the Pitcher

Pandora Wonders at the Box

Pandora Desires to Open the Box

Pandora Opens the Box

Hercules and the Nymphs

Hercules and the Old Man of the Sea

Hercules and Atlas

Philemon and Baucis

The Strangers in the Village

The Strangers Entertained

Bellerophon at the Fountain

Bellerophon on Pegasus

Bellerophon and the Chimaera