Eric Gill
(1882-1940), Sculptor and typographerSitter in 56 portraits
Artist associated with 7 portraits
Gill was a wood engraver, sculptor, typographer and draughtsman, and is regarded as one of the most important English artist-craftsmen of the 20th century. He tried to revive a medieval religious attitude towards art, believing in social reform and in integration between craftsmanship and industry, art and religion. He was a prolific book-illustrator, and the cleanness and simplicity of his woodcuts and lettering in works such as his editions of Chaucer and the Gospels were very influential in the renaissance in English illustrated books. In 1989 Fiona MacCarthy’s biography of Gill made public details from his diaries which record his sexual abuse of his daughters, since then his reputation has been re-examined and he has become a controversial figure in British art.
Eric Gill; Alice Mary (née Knewstub), Lady Rothenstein
by William Rothenstein
oil on canvas, circa 1913
NPG 5508
by William Rothenstein
pencil, 1921
NPG 4647
by Eric Gill
pencil, 1927
NPG 4661
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, circa 1927
NPG x12003
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, circa 1927
NPG x12026
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, circa 1927
NPG x12027
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1928
NPG x12007
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, circa 1928
NPG x12009
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, circa 1928
NPG x12010
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1931
NPG x25885
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