Return of the Conquering Hero
$415.00
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Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
There’s a quietly mischievous charm to this moonlit scene—an elderly, robed gentleman sits cheerfully astride a crescent moon that reads like a cozy, mechanical nest. His rosy face and gentle smile make him feel affectionate rather than forbidding; he peers through a brass spyglass while holding a small candle, as if both curiosity and care guide his nightly rounds. Surrounding details—the pocket watch, patchwork quilt, soft pillow, and gleaming navigational gears—turn the moon into a lived-in object full of stories, mixing whimsy with a hint of old-fashioned ritual. The palette is warm against a cool, starlit sky: golden highlights on the brass and candlelight counterpoint the deep blues of night, creating a reassuring glow. Soft clouds and oversized stars beneath him add to the lullaby quality, while the artist’s delightful attention to costume and tiny props gives the character real personality. This print feels like a page from a storybook come to life—comforting, gently humorous, and perfectly suited to moments when you want an image that soothes and smiles.
The Artwork
About The Man In The Moon,
The Man in the Moon, LIMITED EDITION CANVAS
The man in the moon
Looked out of the moon
And this is what he said,
’Tis time that, now I’m getting up,
All babies went to bed.
So goes the famous childhood nursery rhyme that inspired this brilliant confection by artist Scott Gustafson. This character climbs out of a moon that is chock full of navigational aides, along with his nocturnal companion. He just woke up and is checking to be sure all the little ones on Earth are tucked in for the night.
Collector Details
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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.
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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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