Edward Detmold was the twin brother of Charles Maurice Detmold. Both brothers were animal painters and illustrators, being influenced by Japanese art, displaying early talent, and exhibiting at the young age of 14. Maurice Detmold committed suicide in 1908.

Julius continued painting animals,but his range was considerable and by the 1920s had published a number of fantasy books including the Arabian Nights. Nevertheless, eight of the twelve pictures he did for this edition has an animal or a bird as its focus.