Eric Gill 1882-1940

Estimate

5,000 - 7,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Eric Gill
naked pigmy looking up to naked girl; man on tree and naked girl below
a pair, one incised with initials and numbered 393
wood block carvings with gesso
height (including base) 20cm., 8in.

Literature

Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde, Golden Cockerel Press, London, 1927, p.426 (Man on Tree and Naked Girl Below);
Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, Golden Cockerel Press, London, 1929-31, p.691 (engraving of Naked Pigmy looking up to Naked Girl);
Christopher Skelton, The Engravings of Eric Gill, Wellingborough, 1983, (engravings reproduced on p.191 and p.333).

Catalogue Note

Gill produced the present carvings for the Golden Cockerel Press book publications; a co-operative venture with an aim to producing fine printed books illustrated with wood-engravings. Man on Tree and Naked Girl Below was executed in 1927 for Chaucer's 'Troilus and Criseyde' and Naked Pigmy looking up to Naked Girl was executed in 1930 for 'The Canterbury Tales'. The years spent working on these wood-engravings were to be the most prolific of Gill's career and offer an insight into his expert craftsmanship.