April 11, 2013

Illustrator Eric Fraser: Radio Times legend – in pictures

A new London retrospective celebrates the much-loved British illustrator of books and magazines who defined the look of the Radio Times. We take a look at the highlights

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — The exhibition features Fraser's contributions to Radio Times from the 20s to 70s, with subjects ranging from Wagner operas to the classics, such as this, the 'Hippolytus' of Euripedes, published 28 September 1945 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — The End of Faust, published in the Radio Times, 7 April 1950 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — King John, published in the Radio Times, 7 August 1953 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — Silence in Heaven, published in the Radio Times, 11 March 1949 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — Adventure Story, published in the Radio Times, 28 September 1967 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — The Days of Commune, published in the Radio Times, 14 October 1971 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — 'Fashion Declares for the Suit' – an illustration in Harper's Bazaar, April 1931 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — 'There always comes the reckoning' – an illustration in María de Zayas y Sotomayor's A Shameful Revenge and Other Stories (published by the Folio Society in 1963) Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — Cover design for Robert S de Ropp's book Drugs and the Mind (II), published by the Scientific Book Club in 1957 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — Cover design for Miles and John Hadfield's The Twelve Days of Christmas, published by Cassell, 1962 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — A speculative illustration for the autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini. The caption runs: 'And certainly I should then have killed him with the knife I held but that he was riding a white horse to which he clapped spurs, leaving his cape in my grasp, in order to preserve his life' Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — 'Instantly the whole sky turned black as midnight' – illustration from Sir William and the Wolf and Other Stories from the Days of Chivalry, by John Hampden, published in 1960 by J M Dent & Sons Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — 'Fra Cristoforo fixed on him a pair of blazing eyes' – a drawing from Alessandro Manzoni's book The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi), published by the Folio Society in 1969 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — Cover design for George Johnston's The Saga of Gisli, published in 1963 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — Book cover for the 1965 edition of Walter Scott's The Talisman, published by Everyman Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — 'A banquet was set out in Agrippa's basin upon a barge' – illustration from The Reign of Nero by Cornelius Tacitus, published in 1952 by the Folio Society Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

Eric Fraser: Eric Fraser — Cover design for Hebe Elsna, A Day of Grace, London: Robert Hale, 1952 Photograph: Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's

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