Art: The Alcázar of Segovia

This issue’s cover is once again from the British Library’s free collection. It is a drawing of the Alcázar of Segovia in Spain. The castle began life as a Roman fort, then became a Muslim base under the Berber Almoravid dynasty, and reached its final form under the Christian Castilians. Much of the final form can be credited to King Alfonso VIII and his English wife, Eleanor, who was a sister of Richard the Lionheart (and therefore a daughter of the brilliant Eleanor of Aquitaine).

The art is by Gustave Doré who, amongst other achievements, was apparently a favourite artist of HP Lovecraft. You can see why. There is a definite Cyclopean air to the image. You can find more about the image and the book it comes from here.

As usual, there is a larger image of the unadorned art below.