Charlotte’s Web Original Art by Garth Williams
October 24th, 2010 by Nancy
Sometimes when I look at a book cover — especially a kids’ book cover — I think, “Wow, someone drew that. With their hand! With pencil and/or pen! No computers involved!” And sometimes, the cover illustration is so amazing, it never needs to be replaced — like in the case of Garth Williams‘ cover illustration of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. Recently, the original cover illustration of Charlotte’s Web was sold at auction for $155,350… Whoa!
The classic cover shows Fern Arable, Wilbur the Pig, and others gazing up at Charlotte A. Cavatica as she drops down from the title of the book — cleverly spun to say, “Charlotte’s Web.” The book cover is so amazing, it was even replicated for the poster for the 2006 movie!
Garth Williams actually modeled his illustrations of Fern after his own daughter, Fiona — I wonder if she looked anything like Dakota Fanning, who played Fern in the 2006 movie?
Mr. Williams illustrated over a hundred children’s books, and if I just picture a few of my favorites in my mind, like Little House in the Big Woods, A Cricket in Times Square, or Bedtime for Frances, I realize, WOW — Garth Williams’ illustrations has been the basis of many of my childhood memories and imaginations! Are there any books illustrations that you especially connect with?
— Nancy
Nancy also tried to replicate some interior illustrations from Charlotte’s Web several months ago, but the results don’t really do justice to the original. They’re more like an insult. Sorry.
30 Responses
I like very much this movie
I read this book at school
I like very much this movie
i love the book
i love it mt charlottes web and i read charlottes web and bye charlottes web
i love this book so much
i love the move and i look at it fun but is sad and i went to see charlottes web
i really like this book and this story is very good .
i know right
right
right i love it so much i want to read it again++++
i love this
I love the talking animals!
So interesting. Wilbur is a great pig, and Charlotte is a good spider. It’s a friendship
i went to be your friend and bye
i `m 14 years old and i love to red these stories sooooo much … thanks <3 .. !!
i am reading the book right now and i am almost done and it is really good but sad at the same time.
I love the movie it was sad that they said they had to kill him.Charlotte had great plan.
i like charlotte’s web
charlotte’s web is awsome.
I hate Charlotte’s Web
I Fern save Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web interesting
I love it
When I read the book I cried. It was sad, but it’s cool how Wilbur and Charlotte are friends. It’s a really good book!
I LOVE this movie
i want to see the movie and the book.
i do to
i want to see the real book!
i love it!
Hi who loves this book cause I do it’s amazing and its so wonderful it brings joy