GILL, Eric

Eric Gill wood engraving ‘Madonna and Child in Vesica’

Description

Eric Gill  wood engraving made in 1918 as a Christmas card. The letters signify Jesus, Mary, Joseph and Dominic. Printed for ‘Engravings by Eric Gill’,  One of 400 copies printed on paper specially manufactured for this edition. With the number ‘33’ in top right corner as issued. In very good condition. Not mounted/ matted or framed.

Image size 110 x 50mm (4.5 x 2 inches)

Sheet size 330 x 260mm  (13 x 10 inches)

Item details

Reference: Physick 143,D117, 33.   The block was used on a front cover for ‘Three poems’ by H D C Pepler, St. Dominic’s Press, Ditchling, 1918; used as an illustration for ‘ Nisi Dominus’m, rimes by H D C Pepler, St. Dominic’s Press, Ditchling, 1919; on page 42 of ‘ Horae Beatae Virginis Mariae Juxta ritum Sacri Ordinis Praedicatorum Jussu Editae’, publication No. 37, 1923; on page 22 of ‘Wood Engravings ‘ publication no. 44, 1924.

Eric Gill produced a catalogue of woodcuts in 1929 in conjunction with Douglas Cleverdon. The main edition of 400 were printed on cream wove paper. There were a further 80 editions which had the cream wove images plus an additional set printed on skin thin ‘Japon’ paper (an extremely involved Japanese technique of making paper), and included in a folder inside the back of the book. The Japon paper edition was scarce as mainly allocated at publication to library museums and significant private collectors. The sheet usually ruckles as it is so fragile.The edges will always be slightly creased which often happens at the printing stage. It is important to note that the 1929 Cleverdon edition were printed directly from Gill’s original woodblocks. An example from the Japon paper edition is very difficult to find as the vast majority are housed in public collections or with private collectors and there were only 80 printed. The printing technique allows the print to shine and is very distinct in its effect.