The incredibly complex and intriguing work of John Vernon Lord (b.1939). This book has hundreds of illustrations for Edward Lear's limericks and each one is a marvel to look at. The detailed observations of costumes, animals, plants, insects and buildings, the compositions and the surprising humour are a huge inspiration. A must-have for illustration enthusiasts. The artist himself has been publishing quite a few from this book on his own amazing blog (together with loads of other pictures from his long career in publishing): http://johnvernonlord.blogspot.co.uk/
Here is also an extended article on his life and work, published in Sussex Living Magazine on his 75th birthday in 2014: http://sussexliving.com/december-feature-john-vernon-lord-life-illustration/#
