Fred Fields modeled his cover art for A Paladin In Hell (1998) after a section of the classic full-page art of the same name on page 23 of the Player’s Handbook (1978), drawn by David C. Sutherland III.
The Paladins
The two Paladins are much alike, even down to fine details.
The Devils
The Devils are quite different, though themes are retained, such as the barbed elbows, knees, and continuous barbs.
The Barbed Devil
Let’s compare Sutherland’s Barbed Devil with the illustration by another great D&D artist, David A. Trampier in the Monster Manual (1977), page 21.
The two portraits are very consistent: Head horns, hook nose, fangs, knee and elbow barbs, tail spikes.
I don’t know which came first. The Monster Manual predates the Players Handbook by a year, but that may or may not be relevant.
A Paladin in Hell in the shop
Players Handbook in the shop
See also: Council of Wyrms: THE OLD SCHOOL DRAGONS
Holmes Dungeons & Dragons, ready for the road
D&D: David C. Sutherland’s Red Dragon
World of Greyhawk, folio edition (3rd print) – A thing of beauty
Reblogged this on DDOCentral.