Walter Crane was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most influential, and among the most prolific, children's book creators of his generation and, along with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, one of the strongest contributors to the child's nursery motif that the genre of English children's illustrated literature would exhibit in its developmental stages in the later 19th century.
Walter Crane, c. 1886
Portrait of young Walter Crane painted by his father
"A Garland for May Day 1895" woodcut
Crane's interest in Japanese art is evident in this 1874 cover of a toy book, printed by Edmund Evans.
Randolph Caldecott was a British artist and illustrator, born in Chester. The Caldecott Medal was named in his honour. He exercised his art chiefly in book illustrations. His abilities as an artist were promptly and generously recognised by the Royal Academy. Caldecott greatly influenced illustration of children's books during the nineteenth century. Two books illustrated by him, priced at a shilling each, were published every Christmas for eight years.
Randolph Caldecott
Illustration for "The House that Jack Built", from The Complete Collection of Pictures & Songs, published 1887. Digitally restored
Memorial to Randolph Caldecott in Chester Cathedral
Cover of Babes in the Wood