Mabel Allington Royds

Mabel A. Royds Prickly Pear Woodblock print English 1930s Edwardian

c.1915-20

Mabel Alington Royds (1874-1941) Boat Builders Signed in pencil c.1915-1920 Woodblock Print 23 x 30cm Born in Bedfordshire, Mabel Royds was a painter, pr...

From a series of wood engravings by Eric Gill. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - or send us a message if you cannot find the artist you want. Initial Letter 'H' for The Canterbury Tales (1929) - The Doctor's Tale Woodblock Print Published Hague & Gill 1934 in an unnumbered edition of 300 23x21cm Following Chichester Technical and Art School, Gill moved to London in 1900 to train with the ecclesiastical architects W D Caroe. Finding architecture somewhat pedestrian he took stonemasonry lessons at Westminster Technical Institute and calligraphy lessons at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, coming under the influence of Edward Johnson, the designer of the London Underground's own typeface. In 1903 he ceased his attempts to become an architect, instead becoming a monumental mason, letter-cutter and calligrapher. Based in Ditchling, he began direct carving of stone figures, the semi-abstract figures taking their influence from mediaeval statuary, mixed with influences from Classical statuary from the Greeks and Romans, with a little post-Impressionism added in. With major commissions from Westminster Cathedral for its Stations of the Cross (1914), a series of War Memorials including the Grade II* memorial in Trumpington, and three of the sculptures for Charles Holden's 1928 headquarters of London Underground at 55 Broadway, St James's, and a series of sculptures for the new 1932 Broadcasting House. The list continues. Never one to rest on his laurels, he was at the same time engaged in typographical adventures. He had collaborated with Edward Johnson on the latter's initial thoughts on his London Transport typeface, but in 1925 designed Perpetua on his own, and Gill Sans between 1927-30. For the Golden Cockerel Press he created, in 1929, a bolder typeface to complement wood engravings. And of course Gill was publishing decorated...