Spiked! reviews the new book Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration which accompanied the major shows at the Norman Rockwell Museum, Mass.

It often requires [in the fantasy artist] a high degree of verisimilitude because the characters, objects and places depicted are unfamiliar and the eye needs to be treated to persuasive and descriptive content. The requisite fidelity, research and diligence is often alien to contemporary fine artists [of the white-walled ‘contemporary gallery’ sort], who consider themselves above such considerations.” Yet, consider that this popular art “is a living tradition” with deep and demanding working connections to young and old alike. As such… “It may be that the most talented artists in the world today are not in the [‘contemporary’] fine arts and on the red carpet at biennales.