I used to have a big poster of this painting on my wall when I was 16 and all I knew about it then was the caption said "Queen Mab". Many years later when I found it on the web it was entitled "Feeling Very Undancey Indeed," and when I researched it a bit more I discovered it was actually from Arthur Rackham's illustrations for J M Barrie's Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.
Ah, so that explains why I loved the painting so much! I love J. M. Barrie~the world has lost way too much of its innocence these days. I work very diligently to hang on to as much of mine as I can~reading Peter Pan every few years is one of my favorite ways to accomplish this.
 |
| Queen Mab Tiara by Thyme2dr |
dancey is how the faeries say they are happy...so undancey is faerie-folk language for a wee bit dispirited or some such thing. It is Queen Mab, and the reason she is feeling undancey is too long to go into here, but Dover Publications is issuing a new edition of the with Arthur Rackham's original illustrations next month, so you can go and read the story for yourself if you are curious: Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (Dover Children's Classics)
One of the things I love most about Arthur Rackham's illustrations of Queen Mab is the beautiful tones of ivory and burgundy that he used...it seemed only natural when I was asked to create a wedding set in these colours that they should be named after the undancey faery Queen.
 |
| Queen Mab Earrings by Thyme2dream |
6 comments:
Wow! Excellent!
Thanks for the heads up on the Rackham edition of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens! That's great news. And wow to you -- such lovely jewelry! Be impressed, for I sure am!
Also, I've got a return book recommendation for you.
There's a new Peter Pan novel out that's based on Barrie's idea for more Pan adventure! And it remains faithful to Peter & Wendy as well as Kensington Gardens! A link is here: http://www.peterpansneverworld.com/
BELIEVE!
I rather like Arthur Rackham, much of his work is in the public domain in the United States. I think his drawings are absolutely fantastic. I also like Edmund Dulac who has a very different style which is also very interesting if you like drawings from the "Golden Age of Illustration."
Those pieces are absolutely beautiful. I'm a huge fan of Rackham as well.
I'm a fan of Barrie and Rackham. Your tiara would be lovely for Queen Mab! I'm going to have a look at the books mentioned. Thanks!
That's so funny! My elemental fairy watercolor paintings were inspired by Arthur Rackham's illustrations! You can mainly tell in the wings.
-Susan Marie
Thanks everyone for your comments!! Susan Marie's paintings can be seen at
http://thedancingdragon.etsy.com
Post a Comment