Franklin Booth - A Prayer for the Road's End (End of the Way) Illustration

16 Comments - 4,030 Views - 1 Like

Previous Item:
Franklin Booth - A Prayer for the Road's End (End of the Way) Illustration (detail)

Artwork Details

Title:	Franklin Booth - A Prayer for the Road's End (End of the Way) Illustration
Artist:	Franklin Booth (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	4,030
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Favorited on CAF:	2
Comments:	16
Added to Site:	3/4/2011
Comic Art Archive:

Description

An exquisitely detailed work by the master, Franklin Booth. Booth's work is
epitomized by not only precise and intricate linework but striking
compositions and perfectly weighted positive/negative space. This piece,
rendered for Good Housekeeping is no exception. It
portrays the pivotal moment as life transitions to after life. Death
emerges from the black abyss to usher in a young woman.
His touch brings the end of one form of existence and in so doing, reveals
another. The woman's expression is not one of fear nor pain, remorse nor
regret, but of simple acceptance. She reaches out to the grandfatherly figure
willingly and Booth captures the moment that means everything, the moment they
touch. While the angel's side of the chasm that separates worlds is dark,
mysterious, the woman's is filled with light and clarity. The foreground
however, reveals
a hint of what awaits at her journey's end. A staircase leads down into tall
grassy fields, mottled with numerous flowers, surely a refuge of peace and
contentment.
Booth's composition leads the viewer's eye directly to the point of contact, a
touch as gentle as it is earth shaking in it's implication. A fitting contrast
of heavy linework frames the old figure, swirling in intricate patterns pushing
him forward from the background. HIs legs are lost in its vagaries as he
emerges. His expression is solemn yet kindly. Although the bulk of the
illustration covers the top half of the paper, the bottom is weighted with a
perfect counterbalance of of dark textures, particularly in the lower right
which ascend back up to the main image. The decorative figures that anchor the text box are not
mere afterthoughts, but are sized and composed of just the correct line width to
affix the asymmetrical balance. With the final addition of published text, the
overall effect Booth sought to portray would be complete.

To think Booth created such spectacular works with the speed and regularity
required by the publications he worked for, is testament to the mans'
professionalism and genius.

Thanks to Duke Fuller for unearthing the original title and publication source of this piece, It accompanied "A prayer for the Road's End" by Theodosia Garrison in the November 1917 edition of Good Housekeeping

The top portion of this piece was reprinted in The Art of Franklin Booth (1925)
and its 1976 resurrection by Nostalgia Press. These books list the title of the piece as "End of the Way",

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Tom B. ( 2 )
Joined:	January 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Tom's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

Alain Chomet
Member Since 2009

Posted on 3/4/2011

Congratulations ! Booth was such a great artist.

Ben Friedman
Member Since 2006

Posted on 3/4/2011

Brilliant work of art -- Booth was a genius.

Satya Chetri
Member Since 2006

Posted on 3/5/2011

This blew my mind. What a great example!

Suat Tong Ng
Member Since 2009

Posted on 3/5/2011

This is a beauty. Congratulations on picking this up!

A. Hybsier
Member Since 2003

Posted on 3/5/2011

Epic. I dont know what else to say that would come close...

Tom Coker
Member Since 2005

Posted on 3/5/2011

A phenomenal illustration! Thanks for sharing this Tom.

Adam Ianbarry
Member Since 2010

Posted on 3/5/2011

Beautiful!.... A true work of art!

Kirk Dilbeck (3-Wishes and Patron-of-art)
Member Since 2006

Posted on 3/5/2011

An amazing piece of art and history. Congratulations!!

Peter P
Member Since 2009

Posted on 4/3/2011

Seriously jealous of this Tom, such an amazing piece!!! Super congrats! =)

Duke Fuller
Member Since 2008

Posted on 7/19/2011

Amazing! Published in the November 1917 edition of Good Housekeeping. "A prayer for the Road's End" by Theodosia Garrison... (and was also published in other magazines of that time). congrats!!!!! I'd love to it framed and matted!!

Eric Seffinga
Member Since 2005

Posted on 7/21/2011

Incrediblebleblebleble!

Davide G.
Member Since 2009

Posted on 8/23/2011

An amazing example of exquisite artistic mastery! This wonderful piece reminds me of the art of the great illustrator and engraver Gustave Dor�.

frank x townsondecker
Member Since 2006

Posted on 7/10/2012

WOW! simply incredible!!!!

George Hagenauer
Member Since 2005

Posted on 1/31/2013

A really nice example of Booth and they are very hard to find

Johnny C.
Member Since 2010

Posted on 10/12/2016

Just, simply, amazing!

Sean Clarke
Member Since 2005

Posted on 5/4/2017

Unutterably beautiful!

All
	P A 9/6/2025 11:49:00 AM
	J Murdock 9/6/2025 11:31:00 AM
	COMIX ART 9/6/2025 11:30:00 AM
	Dave E 9/6/2025 11:22:00 AM
	Federico Bettini 9/6/2025 11:20:00 AM
View All


	James Cline 9/6/2025 11:18:00 AM
	Ben H 9/6/2025 11:10:00 AM
	Henrik Henrik 9/6/2025 10:58:00 AM
	Aasemoon ‎ 9/6/2025 10:54:00 AM
	Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy 9/6/2025 10:51:00 AM