Monday 15 April 2013

Robert Lumley and Well Loved Tales - 606d

Robert Lumley and Eric Winter are the two artists I am most often asked about.  This reflects the enduring popularity of the 27 Well Loved Tales titles issued between 1964 (starting with Cinderella) until The Musicians of Bremen (1974).

(For a quick 'walk-through' of all the titles see this quick video:)


Between them, Winter and Lumley illustrated them all (except for one title, The Princess and the Frog) by 'Capaldi'.  That their powerful, evocative illustrations were the reason for the huge success of this series is evidenced by the fact that the revised version of these books initially kept Vera Southgate's original text, but were re-illustrated.  These later books have never achieved the same popularity of the earlier.

I've just posted a new artist biography, supplied to me by Robert Lumley's son (and winner of this year's poor excuse for a Christmas quiz!).

It's full of great Ladybird anecdotes and details.

Robert Lumley

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.