[Eric Gill, sculptor and typographer] Two Signed Letters (one 'Eric Gill' and the other 'Eric Gill osd') to Lawrence Hodson, both in the same secretarial hand, regarding a woodcut 'set of stations'.

Author: 
Eric Gill [Arthur Eric Rowton Gill] (1882-1940), British sculptor, artist and typographer [Lawrence William Hodson (1865-1934), art connoisseur; Father Bernard Delaney (1890-1959), OP]
Publication details: 
On letterheads of Ditchling Common, Sussex. 3 November 1920 and 10 March 1921.
£250.00
SKU: 13741

Both items in fair condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. The second letter addressed by the secretary on the reverse, with four torn stamps and postmarks, to 'Mr. Lawrence Hodson | Bradbourne Hall | Ashbourne | Derbyshire'. The 'set of stations' referred to in the first letter is likely to have been based on those executed by Gill in stone in Westminster Cathedral, and completed in 1918. Letter One (3 November 1920): 1p., 12mo. After thanking Hodson for his letter, Gill informs him that 'Father Delaney [Father Bernard Delaney, OP] says he will certainly publish your article [in 'Blackfriars', the journal of the English Dominicans, of which he was editor] and I am very pleased.' Hodson's 'suggestion that a set of stations should be made in wood cuts is already in hand [last two words placed in quotation marks by Gill]'. Gill 'has seen the cuts' and thinks that 'something in the same manner would certainly be effective and might be very useful'. Gill is sending Hodson a copy of 'the little book that we brought out some years ago', and he will let him know 'as soon as the bigger ones materialise'. Letter Two (10 March 1921): 1p., landscape 12mo. He thanks Hodson for another letter, 'and for the note on "Dress" which I am sending on to the editor of "Blackfriars". I hope he will publish it, and am glad you approved of the article.' He continues: 'I will see that a print of the large woodcut of the first "Station" is sent to you.' He concludes by informing Hodson that he will be 'very pleased to see you when you can come to Ditchling'. While chairman of the brewers W. Butler & Co., Hodson had organised the Wolverhampton Art and Industrial Exhibition of 1902. A connoisseur of the arts, his collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and library of illuminated manuscripts were auctioned by Sotheby's in 1906.