Check out the work of Dutch engraver and painter Hendrick Goltzius, from portraits of knights & noblemen to action layouts of mythological heroes & creatures. I just saw some of his stuff on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Four hundred years later, you know this guy would have been a star at Marvel.

I wonder if that last one was taught in Rob Liefeld's art school.

It's pretty funky.

Goddamn you motherfuckers. Hanzo is the only wanker here with an opinion on art history?

P.S. I am currently drunk. This may be relevant.

I'm more of Gustave Dore fan myself. Over two hundred years later, but quite the dramatic illustrator.

I remember seeing some sketches by William Blake at the Tate years ago and thought he'd be pretty good at the Marvel cosmic stuff, or maybe some of the more mythological Vertigo books.

Some of those are great (not so much the stocky guy with cankles in the last one. ). You seldom see truly dynamic art from that era.

Dore's work for those who are unfamiliar:

Merlin & King Arthur:



Judgment of Solomon:



Noah's Ark and the Great Flood:

Dore is terrific!

Then in the 19th century we've got Arthur Rackham and John Atkinson Grimshaw making their respective faerie art...