Best Viewed: Internet Explorer
(Left) Tintagel Island--where Arthur was reputedly conceived; (right) Ruins of Tintagel
"Tintagel" by James Duffield Harding
"King Arthur's Castle, off Tintagel Head, Cornwall" by Thomas Moran
"So the child was delivered unto Merlin,
and so he bare it forth" by N. C. Wyeth
"Merlin and Arthur" by Scott Gustafson
"Arthur Draws the Sword from the stone" by Walter Crane
[The teenage Arthur proves he is the rightful king]
"The Taking of Excalibur" by John Duncan
[Left top, the three queens who are Arthur's friends; Merlin is rowing
the boat carrying Arthur; behind Merlin is Nimue, the Lady of the Lake;
left bottom, Morgan Le Fay holds the sword that Arthur will take.]
"King Arthur" by Charles Ernest Butler
[Arthur crowns himself king.]
"How Arthur Drew his Sword Excalibur for the First Time" by Arthur Rackham
[Twelve major battles drive out the invading Saxons and establish Arthur's kingdom.]
"Two Crowns" by Frank Dicksee
[Medieval king's crown of gold vs Christ's crown of thorns.
Viewers often associate this image with King Arthur.]
"The Wedding of Arthur and Guinevere" by Lancelot Speed
Winchester Round Table
[Guinevere's dowry brought to King Arthur's court]
"King Arthur's Wedding Feast" "Sir Gawain Swears to be Merciful and
by Arthur Rackham Never to be against Ladies" by William Dyce
[The white hart episode leads to Gawain's first adventure and error.]
"The Green Knight Entered the Hall" by Herbert Cole
[Sir Gawain takes up his challenge to test the Round Table knights.]
"Then was she girt with a noble sword whereof
the king had marvel"... by William Russell Flint.
[Only an innocent knight--Balin--can pull out the sword.]
"How Sir Launcelot slew the knight Sir Peris de Forest Savage that
did distress ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen" by Arthur Rackham
"How Sir Lancelot Fought with a Fiendly Dragon" by Arthur Rackham
[The first knight of the realm]
"Queen Guinevere A-Maying" by John Collier
[Guinevere celebrates the coming of spring]
"The Champion" by Charles Lock Eastlake
"Lancelot Slays Sir Tarquin" "Gareth Helps Lyonors and Overthrows
by Frank Cadogan Cowper the Red Knight" by Arthur Hughes
"She was a great huntress, and daily she used to hunt and
ever she bore her bow with her" by John Russell Flint
[A misdirected arrow nearly disqualifies Lancelot for the next tournament.]
"God Speed" by Edmund Blair Leighton
Links
Bufinch's summary of King Arthur's early life and battles: IV. Arthur and V. Arthur.
Is Cadbury Castle the original Camelot?Resources on "Arthurian Literature and Art": Celtic-Medieval and Victorian-Modern.
NOTE: Students should be advised that there is no one standard version of the King Arthur legends. This "Arthurian Legends Illustrated" represents an amalgam of different artists' views.
Painting, top of page: "Attainment of the Holy Grail" (tapestry) by E. C. Burne-Jones
File last updated: 1/04/12
Comments/suggestions: knichols11@cox.net