100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

Art of Fantasy

A Visual Sourcebook of All That is Unreal
4.33 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 80 ratings, 29 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Art of Fantasy by S. Elizabeth is a compelling exploration of the interplay between fantasy and the arts, delving into how imaginative and fantastical elements have shaped artistic expressions across cultures and history. The book examines various myths, legends, and dreamscapes, highlighting their influence on different art forms. Through vivid images and insightful commentary, it celebrates the creativity that emerges when fantasy and art intertwine.
Read More
Format: Hardback
$5500
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have a passion for exploring the enchanting world of fantasy through art. It celebrates the imaginative creations of artists who bring mythical creatures, magical landscapes, and whimsical tales to life, making it a perfect choice for those who appreciate the intersection of art and visionary storytelling.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The Art of Fantasy is an inspiring curation of art for fans of myth, magic and the unreal - from gallery greats (the Surrealists and Symbolists) to artists working in the margins today.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

This beautiful, fully illustrated book presents a compendium of artworks throughout history which have been inspired by myth, fantasy, and the unreal. Artists have explored imaginary worlds and fantastical creatures for centuries, expressing the unreal and impossible, the mystical and mythical, via the medium of paint.

But what draws them to the imaginary, the uncharted, and the unknown? Is it merely an escape from reality? Or are they seeking a greater understanding of the human experience, or perhaps the very meaning of life itself? With myriad styles and methods of expression, what links artists through the ages? And how have these visual flights of fancy and imagination changed over the course of time?

The Art of Fantasy is a visual sourcebook of all that is fantastical - from fine art to illustration, and from surrealists and symbolists to the creatives working in undefined territories. While the artists in our history books (Blake, Goya, Dali, Magritte, Ernst) first brought fantasy art to the galleries, it was the twentieth-century artists who brought it to the masses.

It is in this book that, for the first time, they are united and equally weighted, presenting a mesmerising and thoughtful curation of the best fantasy artwork out there. This is an inspiring collection for fans of myth, magic, fantasy, and art history.

Series: Art in the Margins

View all
  • Art of Fantasy
    This beautiful, fully illustrated book presents a compendium of artworks throughout history which have been inspired by myth, fantasy, and the unreal. Artists have explored imaginary worlds and fantastical creatures for centuries, expressing the unreal and impossible, the mystical and mythical, via the medium of paint. But what draws them to the imaginary, the uncharted, and the unknown? Is it...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Art of the Occult
    A visual feast of eclectic artwork informed and inspired by spiritual beliefs, magical techniques, mythology, and otherworldly experiences. Mystic and occult practices date back centuries, but why do we still chase the esoteric? Over the past two hundred years, image-makers have been drawn to these unknown spheres and have created curious artworks that transcend time and place - but what...
    Hardback
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Art of Darkness
    Throughout history, artists have been obsessed with darknessβ€”creating works that haunt and horrify, mesmerise and delight, and play on our innermost fears. Gentileschi took revenge with paint in Judith Slaying Holofernes while Bosch depicted fearful visions of Hell that still beguile. Victorian Britain became strangely obsessed with the dead, and in Norway, Munch explored anxiety and fear in one of...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Art of the Unknown
    Pre-order
    The Art of the Unknown
    What lurks at the edges of human perception? Across time and cultures, artists have found themselves drawn to document encounters with forces and phenomena that defy comprehensionβ€”from ghostly manifestations and cosmic energies to twilight realms and parallel dimensions. In studios and sacred spaces, they've attempted to capture evidence of mysterious powers, alternative worlds, and the shadows that lurk just beyond...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Pre-order
    Out 1 Sep 2026

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Art of Fantasy by S. Elizabeth is praised for its compelling exploration of fantasy landscapes and stylistic diversity, featuring imaginative and unlimited landscapes like apocalyptic castles and whimsical aircraft. It's described as a beautifully curated collection that skilfully combines the mythical with the modern and the beautiful with the eerie. The book is lauded for its exceptional illustrations, providing an inspiring visual sourcebook that appeals particularly to those enchanted by dreamlike creatures and imaginative wonderlands.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780711279957

Publisher: Quarto Publishing PLC

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 07 September 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Frances Lincoln

Illustration: 180 colour illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 171.0mm

Height: 224.0mm

Weight: 800g

Pages: 240

About the Author

S. Elizabeth (aka Mlle Ghoul) is a writer, curator, and frill-seeker. Her essays and interviews focusing on esoteric art have appeared in Haute Macabre, Coilhouse, Dirge Magazine, Death & The Maiden, and her occulture blog Unquiet Things, which intersects music, fashion, horror, perfume, and grief. She is the co-creator of The Occult Activity Book Vol 1 and 2 and the author of TheArt of the Occult (2020) and The Art of Darkness (2022).

Also by S. Elizabeth

View all
  • Art of the Occult
    A visual feast of eclectic artwork informed and inspired by spiritual beliefs, magical techniques, mythology, and otherworldly experiences. Mystic and occult practices date back centuries, but why do we still chase the esoteric? Over the past two hundred years, image-makers have been drawn to these unknown spheres and have created curious artworks that transcend time and place - but what...
    Hardback
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Art of Darkness
    Throughout history, artists have been obsessed with darknessβ€”creating works that haunt and horrify, mesmerise and delight, and play on our innermost fears. Gentileschi took revenge with paint in Judith Slaying Holofernes while Bosch depicted fearful visions of Hell that still beguile. Victorian Britain became strangely obsessed with the dead, and in Norway, Munch explored anxiety and fear in one of...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Art of the Unknown
    Pre-order
    The Art of the Unknown
    What lurks at the edges of human perception? Across time and cultures, artists have found themselves drawn to document encounters with forces and phenomena that defy comprehensionβ€”from ghostly manifestations and cosmic energies to twilight realms and parallel dimensions. In studios and sacred spaces, they've attempted to capture evidence of mysterious powers, alternative worlds, and the shadows that lurk just beyond...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Pre-order
    Out 1 Sep 2026

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    New Release
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • They Bloom Because of You
    Bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood - the hard, the magic and the fleeting. β€˜A raw and honest read that makes you feel seen and understood in a way that will bring you to tears.’ - Hilary Swank β€˜A book to keep close and...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Leaves of Grass
    A collectible new Penguin Classics series offers beautiful, slim, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets. In 1855, Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. The volume received great praise from leading Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. This encouragement led to what would become a lifelong project, as Whitman expanded and rewrote the volume until his death...
    Hardback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them
    Throughout history, cats and writers have bonded together in a magical combination of comfort, companionship and inspiration. The famous authors featured here range from Samuel Johnson, whose cat Hodge dined on oysters, and Edward Lear, whose charismatic cat Foss was missing half his tail, to Margaret Mitchell, L. M. Montgomery and Dorothy L. Sayers, who rescued her kitten Blitz from...
    Hardback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Beautiful Chaos
    The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'These words awaken the magic of life by celebrating the ordinary.' - Giovanna Fletcher Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood, capturing everything...
    Paperback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • To the Women - The New Collection of Wise Words Every Woman Needs
    THE COMPLETELY UPDATED COLLECTION WITH OVER 70 BRAND NEW POEMS, FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WILD HOPE AND WORDS TO LIVE BY 'Amazing . . . Donna's words speak to my heart' Davina McCall To the Women is a celebration of the beauty, strength, and joy of being a woman. A love letter to our deep capacity...
    Hardback
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour
    The creative journey continues with Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour by Keri Smith, the latest and most vibrant edition of the groundbreaking series that redefined journaling. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this edition brings the playful destructiveness of the original to life in dazzling full colour, adding a dynamic new dimension to the beloved prompts. Whether you're a seasoned Wreck-er,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • A Thousand Feasts
    THE INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER From award-winning writer Nigel Slater, comes a new and exquisitely written collection of notes, memoir, stories and small moments of joy. 'Nigel Slater’s prose is the rarest delicacy of all: exquisite yet effortless, filled with heart, tenderness, yearning and humour' ELIZABETH DAY For years, Nigel Slater has kept notebooks of curiosities and wonderings, penned...
    Paperback
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Odyssey
    The Odyssey by Homer is a monumental epic that has enthralled readers for centuries with its rich tapestry of adventure and human struggle. It chronicles the perilous journey of Odysseus, the cunning King of Ithaca, as he strives to return home after the fall of Troy. During this ten-year odyssey, Odysseus confronts myriad dangers, both natural and supernatural, that test...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Deliver Me from Nowhere (Movie Tie-In)
    An updated movie tie-in edition of the fascinating story behind the making of Bruce Springsteen's most surprising album, Nebraska, and its pivotal role in the rock legend's career. The inspiration for the major motion picture starring Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong. The fascinating story behind the making of Bruce Springsteen's most surprising album, Nebraska, revealing its pivotal role in...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.