“The Little Mermaid”

The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, 1899

Helen Stratton

Active 1892–1924

 

British illustrator Helen Stratton worked primarily with fairy tales and legends. Her bold Art Nouveau style is often compared to that of Arthur Hughes, W. Heath Robinson, and J. D. Batten. She produced at least five editions of Hans Christian Andersen’s tales for Blackie and Son between 1896 and 1908, the most notable being the 1899 edition, featuring more than 400 pen-and-ink illustrations.

Other books illustrated by Stratton include 1899’s The Arabian Nights Entertainments (on which she collaborated with Robinson and other artists), Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1903), George MacDonald’s The Princess and the Goblin (1911) and The Princess and Curdie (1912).

It was the old soldier

“The Red Shoes,” The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, 1899

There were evolutions for you!

“The Storks,” The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, 1899

There came a knock at the town gate, and the old king went and opened it

“The Real Princess,” The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, 1899

The desire to fight with him was gone

Heroic Legends, n.d.

Sir La-Cote-Male-Taile chooses a bride

Heroic Legends, n.d.