D&D General D&D Art across the editions

[Beleriphon]

Dude, neat idea! I'm actually surprised, but it looks like the 5E book has the most full page art??

Every chapter and section includes a piece. So between the PHB and hte DMG there is a lot of it to use. What i never noticed was the unnamed iconics they use. Even between scenes at least one character from what looks like a party is shared in almost 90% of them.

The group examining what look like magic items is the same as the group fighting in the dungeon, and those same characters appear in other pieces individually or as pairs. For example the dwarf in the caravan piece is the same as the one looking at magic items and fighting beasties.

 

[dave2008]

2e Monster Manual full spread art:

Spoiler

2e Monster Manual Monster art
(Beholder, Carrion Crawler, Demon-Balor, Devil-Pit Fiend, Dragon-Red, Giant-Storm, Lich, Medusa, & Minotaur):

Spoiler

 

[dave2008]

1e Monster Manual full spread art:

Spoiler

1e Monster Manual Monster art
(Beholder, Carrion Crawler, Demon-Balor, Devil-Pit Fiend, Dragon-Red, Giant-Storm, Lich, Medusa, & Minotaur):

Spoiler

 

[Parmandur]

I think I finally got the difference with 4e and 5e art from earlier stuff.

The later stuff is illustrating things you can actually be and do in the game. They are fighting a black dragon. Those are recognizable dnd monsters.

In the 2e art, while its fantasy, it’s not actually related to the game. The fat wizard with the tiny woman with a tail? What is that? The wizard polymorphing a unicorn? Into what? Some sort of lizard?

Later art seems to be actual illustrations rather than just sort of random pictures.

That's because the artists in more recent times have played D&D.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Funny enough, it’s not Elmore, but Caldwell who did my favorite dragon lance art (DL1)

Also, the interior spreads of the MM 1e are some of my favorite, from any book, from any edition. Why? Not just nostalgia because it caused my imagination to run, but because what it was. And that was what happens in game. Ambushed by kolbolds? Walking into a spiders den? Awestruck when you finally get the treasure? That was D&D to me. And still is

 

[dave2008]

I have added the Monster Manual Art, which currently is mostly covers, with links to the individual posts in the OP. On the suggestion of a poster (sorry I don't remember who) I am going to post images of various monsters iconic monsters that appear in each monster manual. Any suggestions? I am currently thinking:
Red Dragon
Balor
Pit Fiend
Beholder

What else?

 

[dave2008]

Funny enough, it’s not Elmore, but Caldwell who did my favorite dragon lance art (DL1)

Also, the interior spreads of the MM 1e are some of my favorite, from any book, from any edition. Why? Not just nostalgia because it caused my imagination to run, but because what it was. And that was what happens in game. Ambushed by kolbolds? Walking into a spiders den? Awestruck when you finally get the treasure? That was D&D to me. And still is

Those have been posted now!

 

[Sacrosanct]

I have added the Monster Manual Art, which currently is mostly covers, with links to the individual posts in the OP. On the suggestion of a poster (sorry I don't remember who) I am going to post images of various monsters iconic monsters that appear in each monster manual. Any suggestions? I am currently thinking:
Red Dragon
Balor
Pit Fiend
Beholder

What else?

Owlbear
Lich
Medusa
Minotaur
Carrion crawler
Giant
(Assuming you’ll skip the common humanoids)

 

[dave2008]

Funny enough, it’s not Elmore, but Caldwell who did my favorite dragon lance art (DL1)

Also, the interior spreads of the MM 1e are some of my favorite, from any book, from any edition. Why? Not just nostalgia because it caused my imagination to run, but because what it was. And that was what happens in game. Ambushed by kolbolds? Walking into a spiders den? Awestruck when you finally get the treasure? That was D&D to me. And still is

That is a good one, but my favorite DL work is probably this Easley piece:

 

[Enrico Poli1]

Elmore's Dragonlance art deserves more love.