Frank Frazetta’s Cover Artwork to “Conan The Buccaneer” by L. Sprague de Camp & Lin Carter (Lancer Publishing, 1971) in black and white.
Frazetta's original cover painting for 'Conan the Buccaneer' was loosely inspired by one of his own illustrations for the Canaveral Press edition of 'Tarzan and the Castaways'. Certainly a far more complex composition than many of his other book covers of the same time period, Frank's painting electrified audiences and revitalized sales of the flagging 'Conan' series.
Fans rejoiced, the publisher was ecstatic, but Frazetta was not satisfied: something just didn't look right. When the original was returned to him, Frank repainted Conan’s face and helmet, adding armor to the figure and detail to the necklace. Still sensing that the work was unbalanced he ultimately elected to remove Conan entirely and start over. The painting in its present form is entitled 'The Destroyer' and is easily one of Frazetta's most popular works.
Excerpt from (Testament The Life and Art of Frank Frazetta. Edited by Cathy and Arnie Fenner, 2001).
To date, this is the best scan of Frazetta’s original painting, “Conan The Buccaneer.” Frazetta photographed the painting after he completed it but only developed it in black and white. The colored version is available in the comment section below.
To learn more about Frazetta visit our blog at FrazettaGirls.com
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