Two posts ago, an anonymous commenter asked (I think he was asking) if I know of Gustave Doré, the outrageously prolific illustrator of the 19th century. Well, yes of course, most of us know and appreciate his amazing illustrations for some of the great classic books, including the Christian Bible. And of course I knew that he teamed with various engravers to bring his art to reproduction in the early days of mass printing, line work being necessary to create mood and atmosphere.
But I sort of thought Dore pencilled it in loosely, and the engravers took over, like modern comic book pencillers and inkers. But actually, I guess, for the most part, the engraver slavishly translated Dore's finished paintings to line work. But his paintings are rarely published.
However, here's a painting that we can line up with its engraved result. It's fascinating to compare them, to see how the engraver was faithful, and where he altered little things—including adding different little figures across the way on the far steps.
I would pay dearly for a coffee table book of Dore's full color paintings that we're so familiar with in black and white.
Gustave Doré — Artaxerxes Granting Liberty to the Jews
"I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel . . . which are minded . . . to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee . . .
(Ezra 7:13)