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DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS

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DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS

Cover illustration for Tanith Lee

Michael Whelan
Nov 08, 2024
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DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS

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Over the broken ruins of a fantastical city, a raven haired young woman takes flight on the back of a white lion. With golden eyes and azure mane, it spreads majestic raptor-like wings to soar. As she scans the distance, her eyes signal concern. Wind whips her hair back and billows her cloak. The silky fabric evokes magic in its pattern, black trimmed in red with a regal gold-dotted motif. Wispy tendrils of clouds trace powder blue skies, suggesting an upward drift of air current.
DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS (1985) Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30" x 22"

Tanith Lee was such a visual writer of fantasy. She gave the artist an inspiring painting concept on nearly every page, offering an inexhaustible supply of fascinating ideas.

Alternative color concept for DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS. Acrylic on Illustration Board - 9” x 6”. A raven haired young woman, mounted on the back of a white lion, raises her hand as her red cloak billows behind. The lion perches atop a pillar with its white feathery wings spread.
Alternate preliminary concept for Delirium’s Mistress.

Tanith must have tapped into some well of Jungian subconscious symbolism in her writing. Her stories carry an intriguing weight of significance even though they are "only" fantasies. Something of the same sense of connection can be found also in works by H. P. Lovecraft and David Lindsay, among others.

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Additional images from DELIRIUM’S MISTRESS

LEFT: Detail of DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS featuring a raven haired young woman riding on the back of a winged white lion with powder blue mane. Her patterned cloak, black trimmed with red, billows as it catches the wind. The background sky is traced with upward drifting wisps of clouds. CENTER: Lion creature sketches. Graphite pencil on paper - 11" x 8 ½". One figure shows it perched on hind legs ready to leap upward. The other shows it with wings wide and four paws approaching a delicate landing. RIGHT: Close detail of DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS featuring the young woman leaning forward to grip the powder blue mane of the lion. It's white feathery wings are spread wide as is scans the ground below. The rider's eyes are focused in the distance as her black cloak trimmed with red billows. The cloak is speckled with golden orbs. A rounded jewel sits upon her chest where the fabric of her top crosses to cup her breasts. Her arms and midriff are bare, and her skirts ride low on her hip with an opening at the side. The fabric is patterned with pale red dots mixed with larger starbursts.LEFT: Detail of DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS featuring a raven haired young woman riding on the back of a winged white lion with powder blue mane. Her patterned cloak, black trimmed with red, billows as it catches the wind. The background sky is traced with upward drifting wisps of clouds. CENTER: Lion creature sketches. Graphite pencil on paper - 11" x 8 ½". One figure shows it perched on hind legs ready to leap upward. The other shows it with wings wide and four paws approaching a delicate landing. RIGHT: Close detail of DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS featuring the young woman leaning forward to grip the powder blue mane of the lion. It's white feathery wings are spread wide as is scans the ground below. The rider's eyes are focused in the distance as her black cloak trimmed with red billows. The cloak is speckled with golden orbs. A rounded jewel sits upon her chest where the fabric of her top crosses to cup her breasts. Her arms and midriff are bare, and her skirts ride low on her hip with an opening at the side. The fabric is patterned with pale red dots mixed with larger starbursts.LEFT: Detail of DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS featuring a raven haired young woman riding on the back of a winged white lion with powder blue mane. Her patterned cloak, black trimmed with red, billows as it catches the wind. The background sky is traced with upward drifting wisps of clouds. CENTER: Lion creature sketches. Graphite pencil on paper - 11" x 8 ½". One figure shows it perched on hind legs ready to leap upward. The other shows it with wings wide and four paws approaching a delicate landing. RIGHT: Close detail of DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS featuring the young woman leaning forward to grip the powder blue mane of the lion. It's white feathery wings are spread wide as is scans the ground below. The rider's eyes are focused in the distance as her black cloak trimmed with red billows. The cloak is speckled with golden orbs. A rounded jewel sits upon her chest where the fabric of her top crosses to cup her breasts. Her arms and midriff are bare, and her skirts ride low on her hip with an opening at the side. The fabric is patterned with pale red dots mixed with larger starbursts.
Details and sketch for DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS
Book cover for DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS by Tanith Lee, published by DAW Books
Delirium’s Mistress by Tanith Lee (DAW)

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DELIRIUM'S MISTRESS

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Discussion about this post

Dale Johnson
Nov 8

Love this painting. Really captures the book. As you know I love that series by Ms Lee. Wish I could have done special additions of all of them and have u paint the covers.

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