The Wonder Clock

The Wonder Clock is a compilation of well-known folk and fairy tales re-written and illustrated by Howard Pyle, which first appeared serially in Harper’s Young People between 1885 and 1887. Quality – both literary and artistic – was Pyle’s first consideration when creating children’s books. Each page was laid out with an eye for design. His decorative pen and ink drawings closely integrate with the text and create unified, distinctive presentations.

Pyle’s illustrations were inspired by both classical and Renaissance art, and particularly the work of German artist Albrecht Durer (1471-1528). In the frontispiece for The Wonder Clock, Pyle includes an hourglass, a scythe and a laurel leaf, all well-known classical symbols. The artist’s drawing of a winged figure attired in flowing robes instructing a youth to play the pipes, and elements of the landscape, suggest Durer’s highly detailed, linear style.