In the year of 1906 Christina Rossetti publishes a picture book of Goblin Market that includes sexual implications of females by Dion Clayton Calthrop, a well less known fairy painter. Dion Clayton Calthrop was known for his fairy-filled paintings and illustrations, most likely streaming from his work in the theatre. In 1925 he published a book called Music Hall Nights, which was following his publication of Goblin Market illustrations in 1906. Calthrop was also known to be supportive for others of getting involved in play and production, helping fellow friend and artist Mary Eleanor Fortescue Brickdale to become involved in fashion for pageants in 1907. Calthrop’s eye for fairies and his inclusion of that within his work, made fantasy even more prevalent in their editions afterwards, leading to Alice Ross, another fairy illustrator, also publishing for Goblin Market in 1910. This began a change in what is identified as children’s literature, as well as how human sexuality is reflected in text in a way that dabbled in taboo themes without explicitly stating them to be present. This lead to being a highly profitable industry for adult story books, having there be competition for Goblin Market, such as Peter Pan. These were definitely considered to be “children’s” fairy tale with an adult appeal that tempted the public. This perhaps brings in questions of laws and cultural factors that revolved around female sexual relationships during that time period and how the LGBTQ community was not relevant or promoted.

Relevant Sources:

Kooistra, Lorraine Janzen. Christina Rossetti and Illustration: A Publishing History, Ohio UP 2002, ProQuest e-Book.

Victorian Web - Bibliography

Victorian Web - A Pre-Raphaelite Journey