Grey Goose and Gander
1880s
This charming illustration captures a whimsical scene straight out of a nursery rhyme, featuring a crowned maiden gliding across a lily-pad pond on the backs of two large white geese. Surrounded by tall irises and delicate water lilies, she holds a reed aloft like a wand, embodying the ethereal, flowing lines and organic shapes typical of the Art Nouveau style. The text at the bottom, 'Grey Goose and Gander waft your wings together,' reveals this as a page from a children's book or songbook, likely from the late 19th century. Francis Donkin Bedford was a master of these decorative illustrations, blending nature and fantasy to create a world that feels both peaceful and magical.