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19th Century, Art, artist, Bible, Dante, engravings, French, Gustave Dore, Inferno, Jerrold, London, Painting, Paradise, Purgatory, religion, Romanticism
His first book was published at the age of 15. A year later, he was the highest paid illustrator in France. During his lifetime, he was literally the most famous artist in the world.
One of the most prolific artists of the 19th century is the French-born (Paul) Gustave Doré. Born in Strasbourg on January 6, 1832, he died in Paris, January 23, 1883.
A visit to Paris when Doré was only 15 years old led to his hiring by publisher Charles Philipon who was so amazed upon viewing the young boy’s talent it’s said that he almost cried. In 1848, Philipon launched a new humour weekly, Journal pour Rire (The Journal For Laughing), and 16-year-old Doré was the featured artist, producing lithographic caricatures. He would continue to build his illustrious career with illustrations for such famous literary works as Dante’s Divine Comedy, Cervantes’ Don Quixote and his only U.S. commission — Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven. He even created 238 engravings for the best-selling book of all time, The Bible. Continue reading