About this Item
A beautiful collection revealing the otherwise little-documented personal creative practice of an archaeological illustrator. Demonstrating her ability with various artistic disciplines and engaging with a remarkable breadth of sources and subjects, it offers insight into her process and intellectual curiosity beyond her commercial work. Ratcliffe is named as the voluntary dig illustrator for the excavations of ancient Jericho carried out by John Garstang in the 1930s. Her drawings were published in the Illustrated London News, and the printed copies are included in the album. Beyond this, she recreates medieval manuscripts and illustrates and illuminates philosophical, religious, and literary texts including the Rubaiyat, biblical themes, and the "To Be or Not to Be" soliloquy. One page is dedicated to a mystical extract from Margaret Fairless Barber's The Roadmender (published in 1902 under the name Michael Fairless), which draws together diverse cultural traditions in much the same way as the wider album. In addition, she produces extensive calligraphic copybook practice, alphabet and initial designs, and annotates pieces with her own critiques, providing insight into her working methods. The materials range from preparatory designs to fully realized illustrations across a variety of media. A certificate from Liverpool's City School of Art awarded for leather-working skills suggests that the amateur binding of this album is Ratcliffe's own work. Folio (390 x 270 mm). Together, 70 items pasted onto grey card stock or loosely inserted. Original artwork in pencil, ink, gouache, watercolour and illuminated in gilt and silver, on various paper or card stocks and vellum comprising: illuminated manuscripts, calligraphic copybook practise, designs after medieval illuminated manuscripts, designs for: initials, title pages, illustrations, alphabets, a bookplate. Additionally 8 photographs, certificate, printed illustrations. Original brown half skiver, patterned paper boards. Binding a little bumped and rubbed, inner hinge cracked but firm, offsetting to front pastedown, skinning to a few leaves and broken mounts where items have detached. A very good example.
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