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The Engraved Work of Eric Gill
1963. First Edition. 94 pages. Green paperback book with pictorial cover. Inscription to front endpaper. Pages are lightly tanned and thumbed at the edges, with light foxing. Binding has remained firm. Paper cover is lightly rub worn and thumbed with light shelf wear to edges and corners. Light creases to corners and spine. Light tanning to spine and edges.
82 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
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About the author
Eric Gill
138 books6 followersArthur Eric Rowton Gill ARA was an English sculptor, typeface designer, and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 21, 2022
I had a numbered edition (there were only 100 produced) of this very large-format book of black and white engravings. Actually it was my Grandma's and it was a Sunday treat to sit in her library and be allowed to look at this beautiful book. Eventually it came to me but was stolen by a tenant I had in my flat in London (I wrote about him in The Arabian Nights).
Eric Gill must have come to the island because one of the other numbered copies is owned by the son of peers of my grandparents (I was going to say 'friends' but there were two distinct groups of whites on the island when my grandparents lived here, those that mixed like my family and those that definitely, definitely didn't). He is now famous as being 'the' artist on the island. Everyone (white) loves his work and praises it to the skies. It is all ripped off or derivative of Eric Gill's work, there is nothing original in his signs, paintings or sculptures. No one but me knows. He knows I know and makes sure to avoid me if I am on the beach where he has a cafe and art shop.
I've actually told other people who have paid really good money for his pieces. People I thought were friends so I didn't want them spending thousands on knocked-off adapted copies. But they mostly thought I was jealous (I'm an artist too, or was back then) or just didn't like the guy. They could have checked online but I don't think any of them bothered and were too into being part of the wealthy crowd that supported 'the best artist on the island, if not the Caribbean' and ignoring the black ones. One of the black ones received a travelling scholarship from a Swiss art academy, another has something similar from NY, but no, they would rather spend money on unoriginal art from a white guy from a very wealthy family because he's one of them.
Not one of these people would admit to being racist. They'd point to their black friends (lawyers, newspaper editors, useful people) and their maid whom they'd say is a 'treasure' and such a friend. Their mouth parrots one thing, their money says quite another.
Eric Gill must have come to the island because one of the other numbered copies is owned by the son of peers of my grandparents (I was going to say 'friends' but there were two distinct groups of whites on the island when my grandparents lived here, those that mixed like my family and those that definitely, definitely didn't). He is now famous as being 'the' artist on the island. Everyone (white) loves his work and praises it to the skies. It is all ripped off or derivative of Eric Gill's work, there is nothing original in his signs, paintings or sculptures. No one but me knows. He knows I know and makes sure to avoid me if I am on the beach where he has a cafe and art shop.
I've actually told other people who have paid really good money for his pieces. People I thought were friends so I didn't want them spending thousands on knocked-off adapted copies. But they mostly thought I was jealous (I'm an artist too, or was back then) or just didn't like the guy. They could have checked online but I don't think any of them bothered and were too into being part of the wealthy crowd that supported 'the best artist on the island, if not the Caribbean' and ignoring the black ones. One of the black ones received a travelling scholarship from a Swiss art academy, another has something similar from NY, but no, they would rather spend money on unoriginal art from a white guy from a very wealthy family because he's one of them.
Not one of these people would admit to being racist. They'd point to their black friends (lawyers, newspaper editors, useful people) and their maid whom they'd say is a 'treasure' and such a friend. Their mouth parrots one thing, their money says quite another.
Displaying 1 of 1 review