Risen Catalogue - Monnow Valley Arts Centre

11Eric Gill(1882–1940)Crucifixion 1917Wood engraving in gold ink on black paper P89 (first state), 12.4 × 8 cmAfter a window in York Minster. One of a few impressions made in gold on black paperEric Gill is one of the best known sculptors in Britain in the 20thcentury. After starting his training as an architect, Gill turned toletter cutting, then to sculpture and engraving. From 1907–24, helived in Ditchling, Sussex and surrounded himself with otherCatholic artist/craftsmen, forming the Guild of St Jospeh and StDominic in 1920. Making engravings for publication in StDominics Press publications and for sale through Londonbooksellers was a regular feature of his activities at this time.Many of his early religious sculptures and engravings have astrong medieval feel about them.In this engraving, Gill’s sublime line gives a dramatic power tothe figure of Christ emphasized by the printing in gold of thecorpus. Only a small number of these engravings in gold areknown. There was no edition of engravings at this time. Printswere produced on demand.24