The Shepherdess and the Chimney-Sweep

For this illustration for the front cover of the book, I was inspired by music boxes and snuff boxes from the 19th century.

If you look closely at the key to the cupboard door, you can make out the initials of the author. "H" for Hans, "C" for Christian, and "A" for Andersen.

The female silhouette behind the cupboard door is one of Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat’s-legs's eleven porcelain wives hidden in the closet. While describing this character, Andersen refers us to the story of “Bluebeard”

So, we find out that the Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep are engaged. And that means that there will be a wedding ring.

I decided to create the ring according to the traditions of the Victorian era. And in those days, a fashion arose to express one’s feelings “in the language of precious stones.”

For example, if a man wanted to give a lady a piece of jewelry with the inscription
D-E-A-R-E-S-T, he ordered a ring inlaid with precious stones in the following sequence: a diamond as "D", emerald as "E", amethyst as "A", ruby as "R", and so on. So that the required word is formed from the first letters of the names of the precious stones. My illustration shows exactly a ring like that.

Notice there is a sprig with flowers lying down by the feet of the Shepherdess. And what can such flowers “tell” us? White Heather is intended to describe her state of mind. In the “language of flowers,” this is a dual symbol. On the one hand, it means charm and delight, white color, and on the other, the need for protection. In Europe, White Heather is often used in wedding ceremonies.

Outside the window, we see the red facade of the building. This is the house where Hans Christian Andersen lived in 1834–1838 and wrote his first fairy tales. It is located in Copenhagen at Nyhavn 20.

And on the next page, next to the porcelain figurine of the old Chinaman, I depicted a jar of smelling salts. Since Andersen placed the heroes of his fairy tale on the mirror table, I thought to depict a couple of everyday little things to get a better feel for the era. Do not be afraid of the sharp needle. With its help, the jar of smelling salts was attached to the bodice of the dress. Take a closer look at the ornate metal elements of the jar, and you will see the number 1845. This wonderful fairy tale was written precisely in the year 1845.

By the way, did you notice the mouse, or did it manage to hide from you?