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| Eric Ravilious in 1939 photo by Serge Chermayeff |
Eric Ravilious (1903 – 1942) was an English
painter, wood-engraver and designer. He was educated at Eastbourne School of
Art and then at the Royal College of Art (1922–5), where he was taught by Paul
Nash and became close friends with Edward Bawden. His early works included the
refectory mural (destr. 1940) in Morley College, London, and wood engravings in
the tradition of Bewick for the Golden Cockerel, Curwen and Nonesuch presses.
In the 1930s he began painting larger
compositions in a wider range of colour, and this led him to use lithography.
Ravilious also produced designs for Wedgwood, including the celebration mug
(1936) for the coronation of King Edward VIII, which was withdrawn and revised
for the coronations of George VI and Elizabeth II; the Alphabet mug
(1937); the Afternoon Tea (1937), Travel (1938) and Garden
Implements (1939) china sets; and the Boat Race Day cup (1938). He
also designed glass for Stuart Crystal (1934), furniture for Dunbar Hay (1936)
and graphic work for advertisements for London Transport and others.
Despite his success as a designer,
Ravilious concentrated increasingly on watercolours. His landscapes and rural
interiors often featured the downland and coast of southern England; haunting
and lyrical, these works show a world in suspense and often feature chalk hill
figures, and empty rooms (e.g. Farmhouse Bedroom, 1939; London,
V&A).
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| 1939 A Farmhouse Bedroom watercolour © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
In 1939 Ravilious became a War Artist. He died in 1942 while observing a sea rescue mission.
This is part 1 of a 3-part post on the
works of Eric Ravilious. Parts 1-2 show a chronology of his works other than
ceramic designs – part 3 will show ceramic designs.
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| 1927c Boy Bird-nesting wood engraving © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1928 Dr. Faustus Conjuring Mephostophilis engraving 18.3 x 13.1 cm © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1928 Harlequin watercolour 52 x 50 cm © Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Walden, Essex, UK © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1928 Wet Afternoon watercolour © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1928c Neptune watercolour 33 x 21 cm © Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Walden, Essex, UK © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1930 Edward Bawden Working in his Studio tempera on board 79 x 92 cm © Royal College of Art, London, UK © Estate of Eric Ravilious. All rights reserved, DACS 2012 |
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| 1930sc Tirzah Garwood and Charlotte Bawden in Brick House, Great Bardfield watercolour 44.2 x 55 cm © Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1932 Strawberry Nets watercolour © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1932 View from Brick House, Great Bardfield © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1932c The River Thames at Hammersmith © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1934 BBC talks pamphlet © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1934 Downs in Winter graphite and watercolour 44.2 x 55 cm © Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1934 Furlongs watercolour © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1934 Windmill graphite and watercolour © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1934 Advertisement in Wine and Food magazine woodcut printed by Curwen Press |
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| 1934 Woodcut from the above © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935 Chalk Paths watercolour © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935 Channel Steamer Leaving Harbour watercolour © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935 Cover design for Curwen Press Newsletter No. 6 © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935 Cucumber House watercolour © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935 Graphic for a bank form by the Royal Horticultural Society and the Westminster Bank © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935 Hull's Mill, Sible Hedingham, Essex watercolour © Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Walden, Essex © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935 The Greenhouse, Cyclamen and Tomatoes graphite and watercolour 47 x 59.7 cm © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935 Title page for "Winters of Content" by Osbert Sitwell © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935 Train Going over a Bridge at Night watercolour 40 x 50 cm © Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935 Wood-engraving for The Hansom Cab and the Pigeons by L.A.G. Strong © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935-36 Country Walks wood engraving © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1935c Two Cows watercolour 56.8 x 44.2 cm © Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Walden, Essex, UK © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1936 Caravans watercolour © Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Walden, Essex, UK © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1936 Village Street graphite and watercolour 39.5 x 51.8 cm © Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1936c Wood Engraving of Hull's Mill 12.4 x 19.4 cm © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| 1937 Alphabet for Wedgwood ceramics © The Estate of Eric Ravilious. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York - DACS, London |
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| A ceramic plate by Wedgwood from my own collection |
In 1938 Ravilious created a set of 24 lithographs
of shops, which were found on the British High Street of that time, for Country
Life books. These prints formed a book for children printed by the Curwen
Press. Unfortunately, only 2000 books were printed because it’s printing plates
were destroyed during the blitz but as a result High Street has become one of
the most highly sought after artists books of the time.
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| 1938 Cover of "High Street" |
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| 1938 Title page of "High Street" |
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| 1938 A Saddler and Harness Maker from "High Street" lithograph 22.7 x 14.5 cm |
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| 1938 Amusement Arcade from "High Street" lithograph 23.1 x 14.8 cm |
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| 1938 Baker and Confectioner from "High Street lithograph |
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| 1938 Cheesemonger from "High Street" lithograph 23.4 x 115.6 cm |
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| 1938 Clerical Outfitter from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Coach Builder from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Family Butcher from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Fireworks from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Grill Room and Restaurant from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Hams from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Hardware from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Knife Grinder from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Letter Maker from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Model Ships and Railways from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Oyster Bar from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Public House from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Second-Hand Furniture from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Submarine Engineer from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 The Furrier from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Theatrical Properties from "High Street" lithograph |
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| 1938 Undertaker from "High Street" lithograph |
Thanks so much for this. I'd forgotten how much I loved the work of Ravilious, one of the great English illustrators and designers. I'm a big fan of your site and this is the icing on the cake. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you John. Comments much appreciated.
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ReplyDeleteI went to the Pallant House Gallery yesterday to see the Ravilious prints.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic little supplement to that. He was such a great print maker. The High Street series is quite fabulous.
Thank you.
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