Fine Art Poster
From £37
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
The king's troops lay siege to Lancelot's castle - Arthur Rackham
Prix régulier
£37.00 GBP
Prix de vente
£37.00 GBP
Prix régulier
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A detailed pen and ink illustration by Arthur Rackham depicting a medieval siege, originally created for Sir Thomas Malory's 'Le Morte d'Arthur'.
This pen and ink illustration by Arthur Rackham depicts a medieval siege scene, characterised by the artist's signature precision and narrative clarity. Rackham, a central figure in the British Golden Age of Illustration, produced this work for an edition of Sir Thomas Malory's 'Le Morte d'Arthur'. The composition focuses on the mechanical and human elements of warfare, featuring heavy cannons positioned in the foreground, aimed at the fortified walls of a castle.
Rackham employs a disciplined line quality, using varied stroke weights to define the textures of stone, metal, and fabric. The soldiers are rendered with expressive, individualised features, while the background architecture provides a sense of scale and historical atmosphere. The sky is filled with stylised, billowing clouds, a recurring motif in Rackham's work that adds a sense of movement to the static scene.
Unlike his later, more ethereal watercolour works, this piece demonstrates his early mastery of black and white line work. The attention to detail in the military equipment, from the barrels of the cannons to the stacked gabions, reflects his rigorous approach to visual storytelling. The scene captures a moment of tension, balancing the technical aspects of the siege with the human presence of the troops. This print offers a clear view of Rackham's technical skill, showing how he used ink to create depth and texture without the need for colour. It remains a representative example of his contribution to early twentieth-century literary illustration, where the artist's role was to expand upon the text through careful observation and imaginative reconstruction of historical settings.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Complete The Look
The king's troops lay siege to Lancelot's castle - Arthur Rackham
Prix régulier
À partir de £37.00 GBP
Prix de vente
À partir de £37.00 GBP
Prix régulier
Fine Art Poster / Small Square (30x30 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Arthur Rackham
Rackham was one of twelve children and smuggled pencils into bed to draw under the covers. When his parents confiscated the paper, he drew on his pillowcase. At seventeen his health was poor enough that he was sent on an ocean voyage to Australia with two aunts. He drew the entire way. The trip settled two things: his health recovered, and he knew he would be an artist.
He came back to London and got a job as an insurance clerk at the Westminster Fire Office, studying part-time at the Lambeth School of Art. In 1892 he left insurance for the Westminster Budget, where he worked as a reporter and illustrator. The illustration work took over. His watercolour of Winchelsea had already been accepted by the Royal Academy and sold for two guineas when he was twenty-one.
He met the painter Edyth Starkie over a garden fence. She encouraged him to stop imitating other illustrators and follow his own instinct, which ran toward twisted trees, gnarled roots and creatures that lived in the gaps between the real and the imagined. They married in 1903. That same year he illustrated The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, which was reprinted twice and made his name.
His style fused northern European line drawing (Durer, Altdorfer) with Japanese woodblock composition. The trees have faces. The roots have fingers. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and Rip Van Winkle followed, the latter a turning point in book production: its fifty-one colour plates demonstrated that colour-separated printing could accurately reproduce original artwork.
Guillermo del Toro cited Rackham as an influence on the Faun in Pan's Labyrinth. Brian Froud credited him with sparking an interest in fairy illustration. He worked until the end: his final commission, The Wind in the Willows, was completed in 1939 shortly before his death at seventy-one.
He came back to London and got a job as an insurance clerk at the Westminster Fire Office, studying part-time at the Lambeth School of Art. In 1892 he left insurance for the Westminster Budget, where he worked as a reporter and illustrator. The illustration work took over. His watercolour of Winchelsea had already been accepted by the Royal Academy and sold for two guineas when he was twenty-one.
He met the painter Edyth Starkie over a garden fence. She encouraged him to stop imitating other illustrators and follow his own instinct, which ran toward twisted trees, gnarled roots and creatures that lived in the gaps between the real and the imagined. They married in 1903. That same year he illustrated The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, which was reprinted twice and made his name.
His style fused northern European line drawing (Durer, Altdorfer) with Japanese woodblock composition. The trees have faces. The roots have fingers. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and Rip Van Winkle followed, the latter a turning point in book production: its fifty-one colour plates demonstrated that colour-separated printing could accurately reproduce original artwork.
Guillermo del Toro cited Rackham as an influence on the Faun in Pan's Labyrinth. Brian Froud credited him with sparking an interest in fairy illustration. He worked until the end: his final commission, The Wind in the Willows, was completed in 1939 shortly before his death at seventy-one.
Made to order
Choose your finish
Every piece is printed to order. These are the five finishes, and what makes each one different.
Fine Art Framed
From £59
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
Fast Shipping
Museum-Quality Materials
You May Also Like