Illustration for The Strange Adventures of Carl Spich; He stopped when he had come close to Carl

Illustration for The Strange Adventures of Carl Spich; He stopped when he had come close to Carl
Illustration for The Strange Adventures of Carl Spich; He stopped when he had come close to Carl

Illustration for The Strange Adventures of Carl Spich; He stopped when he had come close to Carl

Date1885
Artist (American illustrator, 1853–1911)
Illustration Citation"The Strange Adventures of Carl Spich," by Howard Pyle, in Harper's Weekly, January 3, 1885
MediumInk and graphite on illustration board
Dimensionssheet: 9 1/2 × 11 3/16 in. (24.1 × 28.4 cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase, 1912
Object number1912-53
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsDRAWING
Label TextHoward Pyle set this allegorical tale in a fictional European kingdom in 1794. Carl Spich (at right) is a backsmith who boasts that his resemblance to the Crown prince would allow him to attend the court ball undetected. When the devil appears and offers to take him there, Carl agrees to go. Here, in a room decorated with battle scenes, the real Prince suddenly confronts the imposter. Carl will spend the night in the guardhouse before the annoyed Prince lets him go.
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