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Peter P AUSTRALIA
Member Since April 2009
286 Artworks | Watched by 59

Frankenstein Chapter III Plate

Location: Bernie Wrightson
Artist: Bernie Wrightson (All)

6042  Views  -  49  Comments  -  15  Likes

Frankenstein Chapter III Plate
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Full Chapter III Plate
Artwork Details
Location: Bernie Wrightson
Title: Frankenstein Chapter III Plate*
Artist:  Bernie Wrightson (All)
Media Type: Pen and Ink
Art Type: Interior Page
For Sale Status: NFS
Views: 6042
Likes on CAF: 15
Favorited on CAF: 8
Comments: 49
Added to Site: 6/8/2014

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Description
(1977, Pen and ink on Bainbridge board, 15”x20”, 11”x16” live area)

“He began his lecture by a re-capitulation of the history of chemistry…”

Chapter III plate from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, illustrated by Bernie Wrightson (1983)

A beautiful published plate is a piece I didn’t think would fall in place, even for the next decade, let alone one with all the hallmarks I was after, the sublime lab ware, wicker baskets, books, period woodwork, and Bernie’s incredible and intricate inkmanship. (Although, as with possibly every other collector on the planet, a monster lab page wouldn’t go astray, but I believe that to be somewhat out of my circle of influence, haha…)

Overall what I find most intriguing about Bernie’s Frankenstein work are the asymmetric compositions, yet with perfect visual balance, where the characters are not the focal point of the art, rather the beauty of the environment they are in. This being particularly the case in many of the unpublished plates. Bernie also masters the sense of lighting, texture, scale, mood, atmosphere and grandeur, it’s really a breathtaking and unparalleled volume of work.

Particularly love that this plate firmly cements the era in which the story takes place (the Ingolstadt university). The window detail is just gorgeous with the “Boothesque” detail, the spot blacks in the foreground adding high contrast. Victor Frankenstein listening with intent. It’s hard to get over how Bernie managed to get all those super fine lines so parallel, and at the same time with a subtle graduation up each seating level, as the light wanes slightly. (The lines are much finer than the CAF resolution can display)

It’s a shame the planned deluxe version of the book, with scans takes from the originals never took flight, it would have been magnificent…

A personal holy grail, thanks so much to Mr. S for such an easy and stress free transaction, and Rob for your help on such short notice!

About The Owner

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Peter P
Badges: Premium Gallery Owner
Member Since: April 2009
Last Login: June 2026
Country: AUSTRALIA
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Comments on this Artwork

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David K Member Since 2008
Posted On 6/8/2014

Pure perfection by the master at his absolute peak.
Mark Levy Member Since 2004
Posted On 6/8/2014

Art
COMIC PARADISE Member Since 2005
Posted On 6/8/2014

killer piece. congrats
artless artmore Member Since 2013
Posted On 6/8/2014

Absolutely spectacular work of art! What a memorable image this is
frank x townsondecker Member Since 2006
Posted On 6/8/2014

INCREDIBLE!!!
Ben Friedman Member Since 2006
Posted On 6/8/2014

Oh, my -- what an epic pick up!! Congrats, Peter, huge congrats.
Davide G. Member Since 2009
Posted On 6/8/2014

Definitely one of the most precious gems in your wonderful Gallery... Just awesome!
Felix  Lu Member Since 2005
Posted On 6/8/2014

Most impressive...what else needs to be said?
Jonathan Mueller Member Since 2005
Posted On 6/8/2014

BOOM! And out come the big guns! Wow Peter, she's a beauty! I love all of Wrightson's Frankenstein plates; but any that depict those glass flasks, and various vessels, that he's magically managed to make appear solid, yet transparent, are particularly delightful! Major congrats and thanks for sharing!
Dean Abraham Member Since 2008
Posted On 6/8/2014

A pure stellar piece..WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hari Naidu Member Since 2004
Posted On 6/8/2014

Rare to find these! Congratulations. I have always liked this plate.
Andrew Van Embden Member Since 2006
Posted On 6/8/2014

Congratulations Peter on securing this magnificent piece of artwork by the master of macabre!
Joseph Vaughn Member Since 2012
Posted On 6/8/2014

Breathtaking...
Dermot D Member Since 2012
Posted On 6/8/2014

WoW....that's Ridiculously Good! Congrats Peter!
Aaron N. Member Since 2009
Posted On 6/8/2014

Jiminy!
steve  staszower Member Since 2005
Posted On 6/8/2014

Ah, the stunning plate of Professor Waldman, the man who unwittingly sets Victor Frankenstein on his path of misery and destruction. Instantly added to my favorites! Congrats!!!
Jared Simmons Member Since 2004
Posted On 6/9/2014

Thank you for sharing this magnificent piece. Wrightson in his day was unparalleled.
Matches Malone Member Since 2005
Posted On 6/9/2014

......I have no words.
Jean Andre Macchini Member Since 2006
Posted On 6/9/2014

Awesome piece ! Congrats !
Rob  Pistella Member Since 2005
Forum Moderator
Posted On 6/9/2014

Moody and spectacular!!
Scott Williams Member Since 2004
Posted On 6/9/2014

Just great. I know that some think a plate showing the monster is the "ultimate" get, but I would rather have this superb plate over several of the monster plates. It's just a killer stand alone piece.
Neil  Hill Member Since 2006
Posted On 6/9/2014

Another winner, Peter!
Chris K. Member Since 2008
Posted On 6/9/2014

That is spectacular, Peter - what an amazing piece of art & addition to your gallery.
Andy Robbins Member Since 2003
Posted On 6/9/2014

Quite awesome. I remember when this plate walked into a Philly (I believe) Con in the early/mid 90's, and Scott D had it at his booth for about an hour before it sold. I was young and foolish (or inexperienced, to be kind) and had to go get myself lunch to screw on the courage to pay the unthinkable sum of $1800. I talked myself into it, returned to the table, and it was gone... Nice to see it again.
Kirk  Dilbeck (3-Wishes and Patron-of-art) Member Since 2006
Posted On 6/9/2014

Bravo Peter~
Joe Shaffer Member Since 2010
Posted On 6/9/2014

Golly! Great great piece! congrats
Will Tervay Member Since 2005
Posted On 6/9/2014

Just incredible. Thanks for sharing!
Shelton  Bryant Member Since 2005
Posted On 6/10/2014

WRIGHTSON!!!!!!!!!
bob fish Member Since 2011
Posted On 6/10/2014

So impressive ! Thanks for sharing this beauty...
J L Member Since 2005
Posted On 6/10/2014

Spectacular Wrightson original!!!! Congrats Peter. Looks great!!!!
Ken Fries Member Since 2006
Posted On 6/11/2014

Appreciate all your detail as to why you love this piece so much. It is obviously a beautiful piece, and the setting and mood that are conveyed via Wrightson's insanely meticulous line work are the true star of the piece. One can only imagine how many hours Wrightson labored over this particular plate alone. Fantastic pick-up, many congrats!
Alex B Member Since 2008
Posted On 7/6/2014

Absolutely breathtaking. Congrats for this unforgettable piece !
Peter Venkman Member Since 2003
Posted On 10/22/2014

Love at first sight...
Mark Howland Member Since 2004
Posted On 3/3/2016

Talk about a work of art! My god, such detail.
Daryl R Member Since 2015
Posted On 12/2/2016

Simply incredible! The line work in this piece is sublime. Bernie is the true master of this genre and this piece is an exceptional example of why. Amazing.
Carlos DS Member Since 2006
Posted On 3/12/2017

Absolutely spectacular work by the master !!
Jeff Singh Member Since 2004
Posted On 4/14/2017

Such a profound piece. Beautiful image and atmosphere with details you could look at for hours. The inking and depth created is really quite amazing. I agree with you, even something as simple as the windows add so much and are so well executed that it is just one more element of a puzzle that fits together perfectly. Perfect, that is what this plate is.
aric shapiro Member Since 2006
Posted On 5/23/2017

Such a genius
Timothy Finney Member Since 2006
Posted On 5/27/2017

It is interesting how, on many of these plates, Bernie, kind of allows you to initially take in the art as whole with the eye focusing on a central point or character and the overall design around it. However, right around the main image, there will be some little detail somewhere close by and the eye starts to wander towards it. Then from that detail, you find another and another. Pretty soon, you just get lost in minutia. I remember when I finally saw Victor, hidden in plain sight, and, thinking, "Aha!" But by the time I'd finished the thought, some other detail had already taken my eye some place else, and I'm off lost and wandering again.
Bernard Voorzichtig Member Since 2012
Posted On 1/31/2018

Beautiful !
Michael 07 Member Since 2011
1    
Posted On 4/10/2020

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Tom Samot Member Since 2017
1    
Posted On 4/10/2020

One of my favorite arts on CAF! Thank you for Share !!

 Rick W Member Since 2017
2    
Posted On 4/10/2020

Poetry of the pen

 comicinkking. com Member Since 2004
1    
Posted On 4/10/2020

Beautiful!  Congrats!!

 Bill J Member Since 2009
Posted On 5/14/2022

Pure Perfection! Words fail me. This is jaw-dropping!

 Scott  R. Member Since 2003
Posted On 5/22/2022

As good as art gets. Want to say you are a lucky man, but you must have made some good life choices to be able to obtain this. Hats Off.

 M L Member Since 2015
Posted On 4/12/2024

Astounding.

 Phill R Member Since 2010
Posted On 4/12/2024

It really doesn't get any better than this, what a piece!

 Ron B Member Since 2024
Posted On 2/26/2026

Imagine Bernie, setting down that blank piece of paper, to ultimately become this...breathtaking. Congrats!

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