Quiet Duel

Commissioned by Spotify to create the cover for its audiobook edition of The Count of Monte Cristo, Tony approached the brief by stepping away from the expected swashbuckling narrative.

Instead, he focused on the novel’s quieter intensity, selecting a pivotal garden scene where tension sits just beneath the surface. Drawing on detailed research into 19th-century French fashion and historical context, Tony anchors the image in a precise moment, right down to the styling of a pistol inspired by royal gunsmith Nicolas Boutet.

The composition holds back rather than declares, allowing gesture and atmosphere to carry the weight of the story. The result is a cover that shifts the focus from spectacle to psychology, offering a more considered entry point into a well-known classic.

The audiobook is available from December 31st 2026.