Afraid Gallery

Man standing over cowering woman, 1952. Creator: Shirley Markham

Man standing over cowering woman, 1952. Shirley Markham (1931-1999) studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central School of Art in London from 1950-1952. The writer, artist, poet, and illustrator Mervyn Peake (1911-1968) was one of her tutors, and her style of drawing was also influenced by other British illustrators such as Edward Ardizzone, Quentin Blake and Edward Bawden. Markham spent time in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy, and also visited Rome, sketching classical buildings. After graduating from Central, she worked as a graphic designer, producing book illustrations, cartoons for comics, menus and programmes. She gave up her promising career however when she got married in 1957. Middle-class women at that time were expected to devote their energies to bringing up children and running the home, and despite her obvious talent, she lacked the confidence to return to illustration. Her portfolio remained in the family attic for many years, but now her work is published here for the first time

© Shirley Markham Collection / Heritage-Images

The Sacrifice of Isaac, 1635. Artist: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn

The Sacrifice of Isaac, 1635. God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of his faith (Genesis, XXII: 1-13). Abraham set out to carry out the command, proving his belief, but God sent an angel to stay his hand just as he was about to sink the knife into his son's body

© Art Media / Heritage-Images

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The Island Bee (from Wayside Posies: Original Poems of the Country Life), 1867

© Heritage Art/Heritage Images

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