[Ravilious, Eric].

The Wood Engravings of Eric Ravilious.

Second Issue. [Number II 83 (of circa 500 copies)]. The Curwen Press, 1972. Tall Folio (31 cm wide x 43 cm high) Pagination: 113 leaves showing more than 400 of Ravilious’ engravings. Original Hardcover. Cloth-cover (not the spine itself / see image) at spine very slightly cracked. Overall firm and very good condition. Interior excellent !

Eric William Ravilious (22 July 1903 – 2 September 1942) was a British painter, designer, book illustrator and wood-engraver. He grew up in Sussex, and is particularly known for his watercolours of the South Downs, Castle Hedingham and other English landscapes, which examine English landscape and vernacular art with an off-kilter, modernist sensibility and clarity. He served as a war artist, and was the first British war artist to die on active service in World War II when the aircraft he was in was lost off Iceland.

Ravilious engraved more than 400 illustrations and drew over 40 lithographic designs for books and publications during his lifetime. His first commission, in 1926, was to illustrate a novel for Jonathan Cape. He went on to produce work both for large companies such as the Lanston Monotype Corporation and smaller, less commercial publishers, such as the Golden Cockerel Press (for whom he illustrated an edition of Twelfth Night), the Curwen Press and the Cresset Press. His woodcut of two Victorian gentlemen playing cricket has appeared on the front cover of every edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack since 1938. His style of wood-engraving was greatly influenced by that of Thomas Bewick, whom both he and Bawden admired. Ravilious in turn influenced other wood engravers, such as Gwenda Morgan who also depicted scenes in the South Downs and was commissioned by the Golden Cockerel Press. (Wikipedia)

• Keywords: Art – Rare · Catalogue Four – International Art · Catalogue No.10 – International Literature · English Literature – Rare · Fine Art · Fine Binding · Fine Bindings Rare · Fine Press Books · Fine Press Publications · Fine Press Rare · Illustrated Books · Illustrated Books Rare · Inanna Modern – Art Books · Press · Pressendruck · Ravilious, Eric · Typography · Typography Rare
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 32147AB

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