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The Dagger Dropped (1919) – Harry Clarke | Masque of Red Death

The Dagger Dropped (1919) – Harry Clarke | Masque of Red Death

€112,00 EUR
€112,00 EUR
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Harry Clarke

Prince Prospero thought walls and wealth could keep Death outside. He was wrong. Clarke drew the moment he found out.

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Harry Clarke's 1919 plate for Poe's The Masque of the Red Death — the instant the dagger drops, printed as an archival art print.

Prince Prospero has sealed a thousand of his friends inside a walled abbey to wait out the plague, and holds a masquerade among seven coloured rooms. Then a tall figure in grave-cerements walks through them all and stops by the black room and its ebony clock. The prince charges after it, the dagger falls "gleaming upon the sable carpet", and when the guests tear off the mask they find nothing inside. Clarke draws that moment, every inch of the frame filled with ornamental linework so dense it seems to breathe.

Clarke (1889–1931), the Dublin stained-glass artist, drew twenty-four plates for Harrap's 1919 edition of Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination, every one in black and white. This is the most theatrical of them.

It hangs well in a study, a library or a dining room, anywhere the detail rewards a second look. Made to order, shipped worldwide and backed by hundreds of verified customer reviews.

About this work

The Dagger Dropped is a full-page black-and-white plate by the Irish artist Harry Clarke (1889–1931) for Poe's The Masque of the Red Death, printed on page 248 of George G. Harrap's 1919 edition of Tales of Mystery and Imagination. For that edition Clarke drew twenty-four full-page plates and a dozen ornamental text illustrations. The caption is taken from the story: the dagger dropped gleaming upon the sable carpet. The 1919 book sold four hundred copies by December of that year, which led to a second edition. This print is an open edition, made to order and shipped worldwide.

Materials & craftsmanship

  • Paper: 250 gsm fine art paper, matte, uncoated, natural off-white archival surface.
  • Frame: oak or ash hardwood in black, white or natural wood, 20 mm profile, ready to hang.
  • Protection: clear shatterproof plexiglass on framed prints.

Questions about this print

Which story is The Dagger Dropped from?
Poe's The Masque of the Red Death. Prince Prospero holds a masquerade among seven coloured rooms while a plague rages outside; a tall figure in grave-cerements walks through them all, the prince charges after it, and the dagger falls. When the guests tear off the mask they find nothing inside. The plate is captioned with the line about the dagger dropping gleaming upon the sable carpet.

Where was it first published?
On page 248 of George G. Harrap's 1919 edition of Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination, in which Clarke drew twenty-four full-page black-and-white plates and a dozen ornamental text illustrations. Four hundred copies had sold by December 1919, and a second edition followed.

Who was Harry Clarke?
Harry Clarke (1889–1931) was a Dublin stained-glass artist and book illustrator. His Poe plates remain some of his most widely published work, with a dense ornamental linework that fills the frame.

What sizes and frames are available, and what does it cost?
The size and frame selector on this page shows every option with its exact price. Unframed prints across the shop start at €55 and framed prints at €120. Frames come in black, white or natural wood and arrive ready to hang with shatter-resistant glazing; framing is offered at selected sizes only. The paper is archival, acid-free matte with pigment inks. Every size and price is listed on the print prices, sizes and framing page. Every print is an open edition, so nothing is numbered or withdrawn.

How long does delivery take, and what if it arrives damaged?
Every print is made to order and dispatched within 2–5 business days, and shipping is free worldwide. After dispatch, delivery takes 3–7 business days in Ireland, 4–8 in the UK, 5–10 in the USA, 6–12 in Canada and 7–14 in Australia, with tracking by email. If your print arrives damaged or defective, email info@buyirishart.com within 14 days of delivery with a photo and we will replace it or refund you in full. Because every print is made to order, we cannot accept returns for a change of mind. See Shipping & Delivery and the refund policy.

Framed in black, white or natural wood, or unframed. Printed on archival matte paper and made to order.

Frame options and sizes
Frame finishes
  • Black — ash
  • White — ash
  • Natural wood — oak
All frames are 20 mm deep, made from responsibly sourced timber.
Glazing
Shatterproof clear acrylic — lighter than glass.
Paper
Archival matte paper — uncoated, off-white, acid-free and FSC-certified. No gloss, no laminate.
Sizes
  • 60x80 cm / 24x32″ — Unframed, black, white, natural wood
  • 30x40 cm / 12x16″ — Black, white, natural wood
Hanging
Framed prints arrive ready to hang, with a hanging kit for portrait or landscape. Unframed prints arrive without a frame — up to A4 ship flat, larger sizes ship rolled in a protective tube.
Care
For indoor use. Keep out of direct sunlight and away from damp. Dust with a dry cloth; wipe the acrylic with a soft, slightly damp cloth.
Shipping
Free worldwide shipping. Made to order and sent from the production hub closest to you — Ireland 3–7 business days, UK 4–8, USA 5–10, Canada 6–12, Australia 7–14. Framed prints are boxed with protective corners and internal supports.
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