Best Viewed: Internet Explorer

Part I.  The Legend Begins

(Left) Tintagel Island--where Arthur was reputedly conceived; (right) Ruins of Tintagel

"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]

Sir Gawain Swears to be Merciful and
"Never to be against Ladies" by William Dyce.

[Guinevere's Court of Ladies accuses Gawain of mistreating women.]

"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]

             "Lancelot Slays Sir Tarquin"                            "Gareth Helps Lyonors and Overthrows

           by Frank Cadogan Cowper                                  the Red Knight" by Arthur Hughes

"God Speed" by Edmund Blair Leighton

Links

Bufinch's summary of King Arthur's early life and battles: IV. Arthur and V. Arthur.

Information about Arthurian Swords.

Read about Tintagel and Camelot. Is Cadbury Castle the original Camelot?

Resources on "Arthurian Literature and Art": Celtic-Medieval and Victorian-Modern.

Return to Nichols Home Page

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