Vernon Hill

1887 - 1953

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A Sleeper c.1929

Original etching, printed in colours.

Unique colour trial proof impression.

£345

Leaping Flame c.1928

Original etching with additional work in pencil.

Unique working proof impression with pencil alterations by Vernon Hill throughout the image.
Inscribed by the artist in pencil with the original title "Leaping Flame" and annotated by Hill "Rough proof touched with pencil".

SOLD

The Vigil c.1926

Original etching.

Beautiful signed proof impression with fine, clear line.
No published edition of this etching is recorded.

SOLD

Sweeping Flame 1929

Original etching.

Superb proof impression of this highly evocative etching. Numbered from the only projected edition of 30 signed proofs – it is thought unlikely that this edition was ever printed in full. Rare.

This powerfully symbolic work is one of the most expressive of Vernon Hill’s highly individual etchings showing the artist's mature etched work at its height.

SOLD

Waiting c.1920

Original etching.

Very fine signed proof impression with crisp, clear line. No published edition of this etching is recorded.

SOLD

West Wind c.1929

Original etching.

Exceptionally heavily printed trial proof impression.

SOLD

Famine at the Door 1915

Original etching.

Superb presentation proof impression, signed and titled in pencil; inscribed in ink by the artist. An outstanding early proof impression of this expressive symbolic work. No published edition of this rare etching is known.

SOLD

[Invocation – design for the Everlasting Lovers] c.1918

Original etching.

Unique trial proof impression printed in pale brown ink.

SOLD

The Crossing c.1916

Original etching.

Artist’s trial proof impression of this very rare etching. Excellent impression printed under considerable pressure to produce pronounced etched line.

SOLD

The Murder c.1916

Original etching.

Artist’s trial proof impression of this very rare etching.

SOLD

In the Path of War – Stoodly Pike c.1916

Original etching.

Artist’s trial proof impression of this very rare etching.

SOLD

[Tree Maidens / Dryads] c.1929

Original etching, printed in colours.

Unique colour printed proof impression.

SOLD

The Dead Boar

Original etching.

Rare. Exceptionally strong, early proof impression, printed on mottled-pink laid paper.

SOLD

The distinctive allegorical etchings of Vernon Hill are all now scarce. His highly evocative work appears to have evolved entirely independently from the trends of his time, although overtones of the mysticism which so influenced Frederick Carter and Austin Osman Spare can be traced in some of his works.

Born in Yorkshire, Vernon Hill was apprenticed to a trade lithographer at the age of thirteen and by the age of twenty-one he was working under the illustrator and poster designer John Hassall. He became a sculptor in wood, ivory and bronze, a draughtsman, lithographer, etcher and engraver. In 1911 Vernon Hill produced his own remarkable series of illustrations for the New Inferno by S. Phillips and these were soon followed by an equally extraordinary group of works for Ballads Weird and Wonderful by R. Chope (1912). All of this early work revealed a sculptor’s understanding of form, combined with a strong feeling for art nouveau design.

Relatively few of Vernon Hill’s etchings are known, as few were ever issued in formal editions. Those which were published during the 1920’s and 1930’s were released in editions which rarely exceeded 25 proof impressions. [more]