Ex-libris (bookplate) - Arthur Guthrie

This ex libris was made by H. Ospovat, an English painter of Russian origin, for Arthur Guthrie. The border shows the influence of contemporary book illustrations: rich, stylized foliage over black base, with naked female half figures appearing between the tendrils. The central picture depicts an allegorical female figure with naked breasts, a floating hair and dress, holding a lyre in her hand - she is a personification of Music, carried away by the winged Genius, the symbol of «alma poesis». The light easy lines of Ospovat were apparently influenced by Crane, with whom he had a good relationship, though he used more three-dimensional effects. Due to its size, this ex libris could hardly be glued into a book, which shows that at the turn of the century the ex libris was a graphic genre on its own, instead of being a mere accessory of a book.