THE PRINCESS AND THE GOBLIN by George MacDonald illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith

Jessie Willcox Smith (September 6, 1863 – May 3, 1935) was an American illustrator during the Golden Age of American illustration. 

DREAM BLOCKS BY AILEEN CLEVELAND HIGGINS PICTURES BY JESSIE WILLCOX SMITH

 Jessie Willcox Smith was born and raised in Philadelphia. Smith joined her cousin in Cincinnati to attend high school and went on to briefly hold a job as a kindergarten teacher but quickly learned that childcare was not an appealing career path for her. Having tried her hand at sketching to successful results, despite a lack of prior training, she opted to pursue an education in the arts.

 As an illustrator, Jessie Willcox Smith received great respect and achieved financial success. Along with her companions, she was a member of the prestigious Philadelphia Plastic Club, an organization of women artists that held significant lectures and exhibitions. 

Smith’s robust career included the illustration of nearly 40 books including such favorites as Little Women and The Water Babies. Smith’s career lasted until 1933, when her eyesight began to fail. Smith died at Cogshill, a house adjacent to Cogslea where she lived with Henrietta Cozens, in 1935. Cozens inherited Smith’s estate and lived five more years at Cogshill. (Illustration History)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Seven Ages of Childhood, Pictures by Jessie Willcox Smith

  Jessie Willcox Smith (September 6, 1863 – May 3, 1935) was an American illustrator during the Golden Age of American illustration. 

 

First the Infant in Its Mother's Arms

 

 

Then the Toddling Baby Boy -With shining morning face, Creeping like a snail.

Then the Epicure, With fine and greedy taste for porridge

Then the Lover, sighing like the furnace

 

Then the Scholar, with eyes severe and hair of formal cut

The Sixth Shifts

To lean and slender maidenhood,

With thoughtful eyes and quiet mien

Last scene of all that ends

This strange eventful history -

Is first Lore and mere enchantment -

Sans Mother, Sans Father, Sans Brother, Sans Everything

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