Current Gallery: KayNielsen ( piece)
Kay Nielsen is one of the most famous illustrators of children's books. Along with Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac, he pioneered the medium of book illustration in the early part of the 20th century. He later worked for Walt Disney on "Fantasia", designing the monster Chernabog in "Night on Bald Mountain", and the procession of acolytes in the "Ave Maria" sequence that ends the picture.

Nielsen was a born in Denmark in 1886. His father was the director of the Royal Danish Theatre. He studied art in Paris from 1904 to 1911, when he relocated to England. His first job as a book illustrator was for Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch's "In Powder and Crinoline" (also known as "Seven Dancing Princesses") in 1913. In 1914, he created his masterpiece- a series of 25 color plates for "East of the Sun and West of the Moon". This book is one of the most famous illustrated books of its day, and is often cited as the greatest illustrated children's book of all time.

Nielsen designed for the stage in Copenhagen and illustrated "Hansel and Gretel", "Fairy Tales of Hans Andersen", and a book titled "Red Magic", among others before leaving for Hollywood in 1939. He designed sequences in Fantasia and concept art for "The Little Mermaid", which was produced many years after his death. His final years were spent in poverty, painting murals for churches and schools in the Southern California area.

Today, Nielsen is admired for his romantic blend of art nouveau, Japanese design elements and graceful compositions. His books are among the rarest and most valuable illustrated books, treasured by collectors the world over.

For more information on Kay Nielsen's life and work, see...
A-HAA: Kay Nielsen
"A Snowdrift Carried Them Away by Kay Nielsen"  by animationarchive
  • Composite: East of the Sun, West of the Moon Composite: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
from $ 19
  • The Reflection in the Pool by Kay Nielsen The Reflection in the Pool by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • Hold Tight by my Shaggy Coat by Kay Nielsen Hold Tight by my Shaggy Coat by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • Tell Me the Way by Kay Nielsen Tell Me the Way by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • A Little Green Patch by Kay Nielsen A Little Green Patch by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • The North Wind by Kay Nielsen The North Wind by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • Flitting Away From the Castle by Kay Nielsen Flitting Away From the Castle by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • The Lad and the King's Daughter by Kay Nielsen The Lad and the King's Daughter by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • Lindworm by Kay Nielsen Lindworm by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • Pop! Out Flies the Moon by Kay Nielsen Pop! Out Flies the Moon by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • He Took Her Home by Kay Nielsen He Took Her Home by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • I Am the Virgin Mary by Kay Nielsen I Am the Virgin Mary by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • The Princesses in the Earth by Kay Nielsen The Princesses in the Earth by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • Snow Shoes by Kay Nielsen Snow Shoes by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • The Queen Didn't Recognize Him by Kay Nielsen The Queen Didn't Recognize Him by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • Six Brothers Riding Out To Woo by Kay Nielsen Six Brothers Riding Out To Woo by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • In the Well Swims a Duck by Kay Nielsen In the Well Swims a Duck by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • There Stood the Wolf by Kay Nielsen There Stood the Wolf by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • Whither Away? by  Kay Nielsen Whither Away? by  Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • The Horse Begged Him by Kay Nielsen The Horse Begged Him by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • There Lay the Lad by Kay Nielsen There Lay the Lad by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • The Lad in the Battle by Kay Nielsen The Lad in the Battle by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • A Snowdrift Carried Them Away by Kay Nielsen A Snowdrift Carried Them Away by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • The Troll Began Snoring by Kay Nielsen The Troll Began Snoring by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • Pulling Up The Princesses by Kay Nielsen Pulling Up The Princesses by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19
  • Birds  Blacken the Sky by Kay Nielsen Birds  Blacken the Sky by Kay Nielsen
from $ 19

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