Thomas Mackenzie (1887-1944)

English artist and illustrator

Born in Bradford, England, Thomas Mackenzie was an artist, producing illustrations for books, and watercolours during the early 20th century. His earliest commissioned works for James Stephens’ The Crock of Gold (1912) and Arthur Ransome’s Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp in Rhyme (1919). His illustrations are reminiscent of the work of his Art Nouveau peers, including Kay Nielsen and Harry Clarke. However, he failed to make a career as a painter in France.

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp

Illustrations for "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp in Rhyme" by Arthur Ransome [London: Nisbet & Co., 1919)

The man was dressed in yellow and black

And sobbing he sat under the tree

The Slave of the Lamp

The Sultan's daughter, Bedrelbood

And twelve tall negroes, black as coals,
And twelve tall slaves, Circassian, white

A crowd of pig-tailed Chinamen who bowed

Of all miraculous surprises

His only thought was love and pride,
In Princess Bedrelbood, his bride

New lamps of old do I supply

Tis little good to chase
The deeds of magic with a horse

The magician struck but his blows fell wide

He flung far out his talisman