Ida Rentoul Outhwaite – A Fairy Frock (1921), antique framed print

A genuine antique colour offset print titled “A Fairy Frock” by renowned Australian illustrator Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, published in 1921 as an illustration from The Enchanted Forest. Beautifully presented in an ornate gilt frame with archival matting, this charming early twentieth-century print is ready to display and is an authentic period example rather than a modern reproduction. 

One of Outhwaite’s most enchanting fairy scenes, A Fairy Frock depicts delicate winged fairies busily preparing an elaborate floral gown beneath garlands and spiderwebs, attended by tiny woodland sprites. Rendered in her unmistakable soft palette and graceful linework.

35cm x 29cm frame overall 

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite (1888–1960) was Australia’s most celebrated fairy illustrator and one of the country’s finest Golden Age children’s book artists. Her career began in the early 1900s, and she gained international acclaim through beautifully illustrated books including Elves and Fairies, The Enchanted Forest, and The Little Green Road to Fairyland. Working primarily in watercolour and pen, Outhwaite created magical worlds populated by fairies, elves and woodland creatures, inspired by the Australian bush and European fairy traditions. Her original artworks are held in major public collections including the National Gallery of Australia and the State Library of Victoria, while her illustrations remain highly sought after by collectors worldwide for their charm, rarity and enduring appeal.