GILL, Eric

Eric Gill First state rare proof wood engraving ‘Venus’

Description

Eric Gill proof wood engraving made in 1924 titled ‘Venus‘. Printed on thick wove paper. On verso ‘Nude Study by Eric Gill. First state 21/-‘. The figure is in outline only  and not recoreded in the Physick Catalogue. The later impression had details added such as a tree in the background; more lines in lower margin in the foreground and a gentle feathering around the outline. An extremely rare proof, one of only a few copies printed when Gill was engraving the block and printed it to see how the block was progressing.  In very good condition, not sheet unevenly cut.

Size 4.25 x 2.75 inches (110 x 70mm)

Provenance: Residue of the Golden Cockerel collection. Purchased at Bonham’s, Sale no. 20751,

Item details

Reference: Physick 290. Rare,   Physick does not mention First state, only Second State.  (This is because he had no copies to look at whilst cataloguing, therefore not in the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection who received the bulk of Eric Gill’s work) The image for sale is is in outline only . The 2nd State had details added such as a tree in the background; more lines in lower margin in the foreground and a gentle feathering around the outline.

Please see my signed copy which is now available to purchase on this web site.