Illustration from “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” by Ruth Sanderson, 1990. ©Ruth Sanderson. All rights reserved.

December 7, 2013 through March 18, 2014

Stories about princes and princesses, and quests and bravery in the face of extraordinary odds, have remained an essential part of our culture’s foundation, shared by parents and children for many generations. A renowned fantasy artist and illustrator of children’s literature, Ruth Sanderson has created imagery for more than seventy-five picture books, many of which bring classic tales to life.

This special holiday installation, featuring more than sixty original illustrations for classic and original stories, includes her personal favorite—The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Now in the permanent collection of the Norman Rockwell Museum, Ruth’s paintings and studies for this enchanting tale will be accompanied by the opulent costumes that she commissioned specifically for her work. Dazzling paintings for other princess-inspired books, including The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella; The Golden Mare, The Firebird, and The Magic Ring; The Snow Princess, The Crystal Mountain; and The Enchanted Wood, an original story, are sure to delight in this magical exhibition.