Eric Gill: Man of Flesh and Spirit

by Malcolm Yorke

Eric Gill is perhaps the greatest English artist-craftsman of the twentieth century. His most celebrated achievements were sculptures in stone and wood ("Prospero and Ariel" on Broadcasting House; the "Stations of the Cross" in Westminster Cathedral). Malcolm Yorke reassesses this cranky, eccentric but vulnerable and modest man and illustrates his life and work with over 100 examples of Gill’s engravings, sculptures and erotic drawings.

Genres: Art

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1981

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and inspiring read for me. This is a re-read..last time i read it was in the late eighties. A bit dry, it reads more like a term paper than a passionate biography of Eric. That may be appropriate as the artist tried to seek the rational answers to life and living and working, but his passion even if quirky is much more intriguing. However, it does give a glimpse into the mind of the thoughtful yet passionate artist. I enjoyed it even in the second read. Quite a contrast after reading Huffington's "Picasso", and all the more intriguing for having read it afterwards.

[Gabriel · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmm
ultra documented but somewhat shallow; not biographical at all; biaised towards the least interesting features imo, instead of typography and weird sexuality; scholar, petitbourgeois, at times judging. I meant to get Fiona MacCarthy's book but got this one by mistake.