Fig. 3. Dunlop, Hope. “There came pouring a stream of sun-rays … like a bridge … Sliding down it, as if she had been made of air, came the little old woman in grey.” Project Gutenberg, 1909, p. 109. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/45975/pg45975-images.html.
Hope Dunlap's picture depicts Prince Dolor sitting in wonder as the fairy godmother emerges from a dazzling flood of light, her figure glowing and magical. Soft pastels and smooth, flowing lines are used in the artist's delicate manner to produce an almost unearthly look. Cool blues and gentle whites, which imply peace, tranquilly, and a mystical disassociation from the material world, wrap the fairy. She is separated from the prince's grounded form by the vertical lines of the illuminated light she travels on, which emphasize her coming from another dimension and suggest a feeling of elevation and heaven mobility. The feeling of security and warmth is reinforced by the frequent use of rounded shapes, which includes the door's arch and her cloak's softened edges. As a potent metaphor of comprehending and enlightenment, it is used to symbolize the godmother's role in enabling and leading Prince Dolor. In addition, the opening behind the monarch serves as a transitional symbol, signifying the boundary between the everyday world and the impending magical intervention. The image and the text, which depicts the godmother's elegant arrival and the flow of sun-rays creating a bridge, are the same. Blending the magical with the sentimental, the image and lines both depict the event as an important moment in the story. Capturing the strange awe of the godmother's fall, this image validates the meaning of the narrative rather than adding to or contradicting it. Even if the plot develops into Prince Dolor becoming stronger and wiser, this scene marks a significant turning point in his development. Word and picture work in perfect harmony to give the audience a complete sense of the enchantment and importance of this presentation, transforming it from a mere visit into a profound change.