E is for Earl

Category

Library Item

Item no

23650

Title

E is for Earl

Description

A large rotund man is dressed in a belted tunic, hose and wears a ceremonial chain around his neck and over a cape. He has rosy cheeks and wears a cap.
Reproduced by kind permission of (c) Desmond Banks.

Artist / maker

Nicholson, William Newzam Prior

Date

1898

Size

24.5 x 19.5 cm

Type

Wood cut

Location

Art and Design Library

'An Alphabet', a series of woodcut prints, was executed by William Nicholson in 1897 and published in 1898. The first image in the series of alphabet illustrations is in fact, a self portrait of the artist. At the age of 25, Nicholson self-deprecatingly said he 'was an Artist'. Of the series, A and D were the pieces submitted for approval by William Heinemann. Each woodblock was valued at £5, and 6p for each of the impressions which were hand-coloured. It is believed that E and T were the amongst the latest of the woodcuts to be done. These assumptions are made based on changes in the character of the letters. It as also believed that the work was not created in a chronological order, but rather as the ideas came to Nicholson. E was intended to be for Executioner, but this was deemed too gory for a children's book.
Along with a woodcut of Queen Victoria made in 1897, 'An Alphabet' served to establish Nicholson's public reputation as an artist. He went on, after 1900, to concentrate on portrait and landscape painting, but his work as a printmaker continues to be highly regarded.

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Related images

Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Belts

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Necklaces

Clothing and dress > Garments > Capes

People > Adults > Men