Return of the Conquering Hero
$415.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
There’s a delightful, storybook hush to the scene—like stepping into a remembered nursery rhyme. A young girl in a straw hat and pinafore leans forward with a curious, almost conspiratorial smile, as if she’s just spotted something secret among the blooms. The garden around her is a joyful chorus of color: deep crimson roses, sunny marigolds, clusters of blue hydrangea and tiny white lilies mingle with daisies that march in neat rows. A white birdhouse and a trailing willow beyond the low stone wall give the setting a sheltered, intimate feeling, while the distant hills and soft sky open the composition gently outward. The painting’s warm palette and carefully observed details—woven basket, cobbled path, and a small rabbit tucked in the flowers—create a sense of innocence and domestic wonder. It feels like a cherished page from a childhood story, one that invites a quiet smile and the pleasure of discovering little touches again and again.
The Artwork
About Mary Mary Quite Contrary Limited Edition Print
MARY MARY QUITE CONTRARY, LIMITED EDITION PRINT
Can you find all the hidden references to this lovely old nursery rhyme? Scott says that the lively looking daisies are the pretty maids all in a row. The seashells bordering the flowerbed in the background are cockle shells. And the silver bells? When I was a kid, Scott says, I always called lily of the valley silver bells because of their bell-shaped blooms, so Ive planted a few of them at Marys feet. It would be quite contrary for roses, tulips, and marigold to be anything less than beautiful and the colors of these are simply exquisite.
Collector Details
What to Know About This Piece
Product-specific details, edition information, provenance, and special considerations are shown here when applicable.
About the Collection
Blending storybook fantasy art with classic fairy tale illustration, these whimsical and richly detailed paintings bring beloved characters and mythological scenes to life with vibrant colors and masterful brushwork. Featuring enchanting storytelling and traditional realism, each piece captures the timeless magic of nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and folklore through meticulously crafted compositions. With a focus on luminous, painterly techniques and expressive character details, these works create a sense of wonder and nostalgia, perfect for collectors of imaginative and romanticized fantasy art. Whether depicting storybook adventures or elegant mythological figures, these paintings transport viewers into a world of charm, magic, and timeless artistic craftsmanship.
Artist Signature
Signed by the artist
This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Scott Gustafson.
Authorized Source
Authenticity & Documentation
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Limited-edition artwork includes a Certificate of Authenticity when one is issued by the artist, publisher, studio, or authorized source. Open-edition pieces may not include a certificate; this does not affect their authenticity. The Collection Shop sources artwork through artists, publishers, authorized distributors, galleries, and other approved channels. Any additional documentation included with this specific piece will be noted above.
"Storytelling through pictures has always held a certain fascination for Scott
Gustafson; be they the moving images in animated cartoons, or the epic
illustrations of N. C. Wyeth. Upon entering the Chicago Academy of Fine Art,
Scott was 99% sure that he wanted to become an animator, but it was that 1%
that ultimately drew him more and more into the world of stretched canvas and
oil paint. ""As an animator, ""Gustafson says, ""your contribution to a given
film is, by necessity, limited to whatever character you've been assigned. But
as an illustrator, you're responsible for locations, sets, costumes, props,
lighting and character designs, not to mention the overall mood and emotion of
a given painting. It's about the best job there is.""
Over the nearly twenty-five years that span his career, he has had the
opportunity to fulfill commissions for a number of varied clients and
publishers such as Celestial Seasonings, Playboy magazine, Saturday Evening
Post, The Bradford Exchange, DreamWorks and The Greenwich Workshop. His
illustrated books include The Night Before Christmas, Peter Pan, Nutcracker,
as well as two original titles, Animal Orchestra and Alphabet Soup. His newest
release, Classic Fairy Tales, was recently awarded a Chesley award for best
interior book illustrations from the Association of Science Fiction and
Fantasy Artists and is currently in its third printing.
"
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