Yesterday marked one hundred and thirty years since the passing of Alfred, Lord Tennyson in 1892. While also known for other poems, like Ulysses and The Charge of the Light Brigade, Tennyson’s name—for me—always brings first to mind his epic Arthurian poetry cycle, Idylls of the King. Even moreso now than usual, when the first chill of autumn is in the air.

Here is how the Poetry Foundation website describes Tennyson:

More than any other Victorian-era writer, Tennyson has seemed the embodiment of his age, both to his contemporaries and to modern readers. In his own day he was said to be—with Queen Victoria and Prime Minister William Gladstone—one of the three most famous living persons, a reputation no other poet writing in English has ever had.

Tennyson was rock star famous. Nay, he was movie star famous. He was forced to abandon his summer house on the Isle of Wight due to constant intrusions by tourists seeking to meet the most famous poet on the planet.

Among Tennyson's most ardent admirers were the artists of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. The pre-industrial, romantic visions to be found within Alfred's Arthurian poems enthralled Pre-Raphaelites like Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones. They would paint and draw scores--if not hundreds--of artworks with Arthurian themes; themes with a distinctly Tennysonian feel. Rossetti and other artists of the Brotherhood would illustrate 'The Moxon Tennyson' edition, a landmark in English publishing. The Pre-Raphaelite influence would extend into the 1880s, culminating in John William Waterhouse's immortal The Lady of Shalott.

Just as Tennyson brings to mind King Arthur, the term 'Pre-Raphaelite' makes me think of Barry Windsor-Smith. I first learned of the Pre-Raphaelites by way of Barry's interview in Epic Illustrated. They were a huge influence on him.

That being so, is it any surprise that Barry published an Arthurian-themed portfolio in 1978, a portfolio with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood at its core?

This is the description from a seller on invaluable.com:

A superb set of ink drawings each depicting an Arthurian legend. Very interestingly, the artist chose to represent each legend by rendering them in the form of famous 19th century art [Pre-Raphaelite] personalities. Including (1) William Morris as King Arthur, (1) Jane Morris as Queen Guinevere, (1) Dante Gabriel Rossetti as Sir Lancelot, (1) John Ruskin as Merlyn, (1) Elizabeth Siddal Rossetti as Elaine, and (1) Edward Burne-Jones as Sir Galahad.

Yep, Barry Windsor-Smith put the Pre-Raphaelites into the Arthurian legends they loved so dearly. He did so exquisitely, during what I consider his finest period as an artist. From what I can tell, the portfolio goes for upwards of twenty grand these days.

Feel free to check out the portfolio below.

Bravo, Barry. Rest in peace, Lord Tennyson