Dreyfus John 1918 2002 (1 results)
More imagesEric Gill for Father Desmond [Fine Press & Book Arts]
Dreyfus, John (1918-2002); Williams, Graham. Illustrated by Eric Gill (1882-1940)
- Softcover
- First Edition
Seller: Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA), DeLand, FL, U.S.A.Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA)
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Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition, First Printing. A beautifully produced study celebrating Eric Gill's artistic collaboration with Father Desmond Chute through rare drawings, wood engravings, and previously unpublished proof states. This finely printed monograph examines one of the lesser-known but art…istically significant relationships in Eric Gill's career: his friendship and collaboration with Father Desmond Chute. Combining essays by distinguished typographer John Dreyfus and Gill scholar Graham Williams, the volume documents Gill's portraits, religious commissions, and engravings created for Chute between the 1920s and 1930s. Particularly valuable are the reproductions of successive proof states that reveal Gill's working methods as a master wood engraver. Published by Bain & Williams in an edition of 1,000 copies, the work reflects the continued revival of interest in Gill's typography, religious art, and private press legacy during the late twentieth century. For collectors of Eric Gill, British private press printing, and Arts & Crafts book production, it provides an accessible scholarly study illustrated with material drawn from important institutional collections. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Dark brown stiff card-stock wrappers in the original cream printed dust wrapper featuring one of Gill's devotional wood engravings. Quarto, approximately 8.75 inches tall; 52 pages, final leaf blank. Half-title, wood-engraved title-page device, and 11 illustrated figures reproducing portraits, wood engravings, drawings, and progressive proof states. CONDITION:FINE. Bindings remain firm and square; text is fresh and clean. No ownership marks or internal defects observed. The dust wrapper shows only the slightest evidence of careful shelf handling. An exceptionally well-preserved copy, presenting as gift quality. BIBLIOGRAPHIC SIGNIFICANCE - DOCUMENTING A MASTER WOOD ENGRAVERBEYOND THE CONTROVERSY. Eric Gill remains one of the defining figures of twentieth-century British book arts. As sculptor, typographer, letter designer, and wood engraver, his influence extends from fine press printing to everyday typography through enduring typefaces such as Gill Sans and Perpetua. While modern discussion often acknowledges the disturbing aspects of Gill's private life, his artistic achievements continue to occupy a central place in the history of printing, illustration, and graphic design. FAITH EXPRESSED THROUGH DESIGN. Father Desmond Chute occupied an important place within Gill's circle during the years when Gill's religious convictions and artistic practice were closely intertwined. The drawings and engravings reproduced here illustrate not merely portraits of a friend but the collaborative exchange between artist and priest, revealing how liturgical symbolism, calligraphy, and wood engraving merged into a unified visual language. A WINDOW INTO GILL'S CREATIVE PROCESS. Especially valuable are the reproduced proof states documenting the progressive refinement of Gill's engravings. Rather than presenting only finished works, the volume allows readers to observe the careful decisions behind line, balance, and composition-material of particular interest to collectors, printers, and historians of the private press movement. KEY FEATURES +++ A Specialized Gill Study - Examines the artistic and spiritual relationship between Eric Gill and Father Desmond Chute, documenting a focused chapter in Gill's career seldom explored in broader monographs. +++ Inside the Engraver's Workshop - Reproduces multiple proof states that reveal the progressive development of Gill's wood engravings, offering unusual insight into his creative process and technical mastery. +++ Faith Expressed Through Design - Illustrates Gill's religious commissions, portraits, liturgical designs, and devotional imagery, demonstrating the integration of faith, typography, and craftsmanship that defined much of his mature work. +++ Authoritative Scholarship - Essays by distinguished typographer John Dreyfus and Gill scholar Graham Williams place the artwork within the broader context of Eric Gill studies and twentieth-century British book arts. +++ Drawn from Major Collections - Reproduces material preserved by institutions including the National Portrait Gallery and the West Sussex Record Office, bringing together works and documentary evidence not easily encountered elsewhere. SUBJECTS: Eric Gill, Father Desmond Chute, John Dreyfus, Graham Williams, British Private Press, Wood Engraving, Arts and Crafts Movement, Typography, Gill Sans, Perpetua, Fine Printing, Religious Illustration, Graphic Design, Twentieth-Century British Art, Private Press; Book Arts; Typography; Wood Engraving; British Art; Religious Art.
