Record independent book showing illustration (7)
I believe the answer is:
epitome
'illustration' is the definition.
(epitome can mean an illustration or model)
'record independent book' is the wordplay.
'record' becomes 'EP' (abbreviation for extended play record).
'independent' becomes 'i'.
'book' becomes 'tome' (a tome is a book).
'ep'+'i'+'tome'='EPITOME'
'showing' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for epitome that I've seen before include "Personification" , "Embodiment, type" , "Ideal example" , "Perfect example of a quality" , "Paradigm" .)