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The Shipmans Tale (boxwood, ebonised with printers ink, gessoed & painted)
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The Shipmans Tale (boxwood, ebonised with printers ink, gessoed & painted)
2956886 The Shipmans Tale (boxwood, ebonised with printers ink, gessoed & painted) by Gill, Eric (1882-1940); Private Collection; (add.info.: This remarkable sculpture is the original woodblock that Gill cut to print his illustration to The Shipmans Tale in the Golden Cockerel Press edition of The Canterbury Tales, 1929-31. After it was used for this purpose, Gill filled the cut away areas with gesso paste mixed with mother-of-pearl dust to give it a slight twinkle, and delicately painted details with bronze paint. He then mounted it on a plinth and gave it to the woman he used as a model for the merchants wife in the bed, Cicely Marchant, who ran the Goupil Gallery in London, with her husband William, Gills dealers. Gill himself was the randy monk. The opening lines of the Shipmans Tale are:
A marchant whilom dwelled at Seint-Denys,
That riche was, for which men helde hym wys.
A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee;
And compaignable and revelous was she,
This is a pun, typical of Gills humour, on marchant, Middle English for merchant. The story of the Tale is that the merchants wife had expensive habits (she liked to party) and asked the monk for money to pay her debts so that her husband won t discover her. The monk borrowed the money from her husband to give to her, the bargain being that she sleep with him:
That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al nyght
Have hire in his armes bolt upright; ); Photo © The Ms Gallery, London
Media ID 25133226
© The Maas Gallery, London / Bridgeman Images
Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer Gift Model Narrative Present Self Portrait Woodblock Woodcut Merchant Merchants Wife
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This print showcases "The Shipmans Tale" a remarkable sculpture created by Eric Gill in the early 20th century. The original woodblock was meticulously carved by Gill to print his illustration for "The Shipmans Tale" in the Golden Cockerel Press edition of Geoffrey Chaucer's famous work, The Canterbury Tales, published between 1929 and 1931. After its use as a printing tool, Gill transformed the woodblock into an exquisite artwork. He filled the cut-away areas with gesso paste mixed with mother-of-pearl dust, giving it a subtle twinkle. With great attention to detail, he delicately painted bronze accents on the piece. Mounted on a plinth, this unique creation found its way into the hands of Cicely Marchant, who served as both model and inspiration for the merchant's wife depicted in bed within the sculpture. Cicely Marchant ran London's Goupil Gallery alongside her husband William – both being dealers of Gill's artworks. In this particular tale from The Canterbury Tales, Gill humorously portrays himself as "the randy monk". The story revolves around a wealthy merchant whose beautiful and lively wife has extravagant habits. To conceal her debts from her husband, she seeks financial assistance from the monk but must agree to sleep with him in return. This print captures not only Gill's artistic mastery but also provides insight into his playful sense of humor and personal relationships within London's art scene during that era.
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