A Princess of Mars (1970)

A Princess of Mars, 1970
Oil on canvas board
20 x 16 inches (50.8 x 40.6 cm)
Signed and dated upper left: Frazetta © 70

Quite possibly the most celebrated of all Frank Frazetta's John Carter of Mars images, this depiction of the titular hero standing triumphantly with the ever-alluring Dejah Thoris occupies a legendary place in both the artist's career and the canon of science-fiction and fantasy art. In 1970, Frazetta produced two versions of the composition. The first appeared as the published dust jacket for the 1970 Doubleday hardcover edition of A Princess of Mars. Uncertain that the original would ever be returned and immensely fond of the image, Frazetta immediately created a second version for himself-the magnificent painting offered here. In later years, the artist openly declared that he preferred this rendition above the Doubleday version.

The work is by all measures, a show-stopper. The classical arrangement, the richness of shadow and texture, and the dramatic sense of otherworldly atmosphere draws the viewer directly into the mysterious landscapes of Barsoom. Beyond its extraordinary aesthetic impact, the painting played a significant role in reigniting interest in Edgar Rice Burroughs' groundbreaking novel-the first in his legendary Martian series. Originally serialized in 1912 as Under the Moons of Mars in The All-Story magazine, the tale was collected and published as A Princess of Mars in 1917. While the story has been reissued many times over the decades, it is Frazetta's breathtaking vision that remains definitive-arguably the most memorable and enduring cover ever created for the novel, and one of the most significant and indelible pieces of fantasy art in existence, foregrounding every element that collectors prize most in Frazetta's work. In fact, this painting is so iconic, it was also used as the front cover for the massive hardcover Masterpieces of Fantasy Art, published by Taschen.