ID: 2648
Two autograph signed letters to Desmond Macready Chute
JONES, David
Category: Autograph Letters/Manuscripts
Place/Publisher/Date:
Northwick Lodge, Harrow-on-the-Hill, No publisher.1954-1956.
Description:
Two autograph signed letters; 4to; with two original envelopes, addressed Northwick Lodge, Harrow-on-the-Hill. August 30th 1954 a six page letter to Desmond Macready Chute. Chute studied at the Slade School of Art and 1913 he exhibited some paintings, and in 1914 he had a show of portraits at the New English Art Club. In 1918 Chute encountered Eric Gill at work in Westminster Cathedral which resulted in Chute's participation in the craft community at Ditchling. After Gill was called up Chute was left in charge at Ditchling, and he oversaw Gill's household and workshop. David Jones arrived in Ditchling in 1921, as an assistant to Gill. Chute befriended him, and taught him wood engraving. In his biography of Jones, Thomas Dilworth states that 'within days Chute knew that his pupil had surpassed him.' In 1921 Chute started to study for the Catholic priesthood, in Fribourg. He was ordained priest in 1927 and moved for his health to Rapallo, Italy. Jones writes to thank Chute for a review of The Anathemata in the Blackfriars magazine. On the second page Jones includes a sketch of a church in ink and coloured pencil, referencing an image on a post card Chute had sent to him. Jones complains about a catalogue of his work (possible for the exhibition of his work organised by the Arts Council - 'I'm sorry they dug up those old engravings to stick in there .... on the title page I cant stand ... dominating the whole catalogue. He goes on to say that his watercolours of Guenevere & Aphrodite are impossible to reproduce. Page four includes a sketch of the crossed feet of Christ during crucifixion. He praises Saunders Lewis who wrote the introduction to the catalogue in Welsh but wished there had been an English translation. Complains about the amount of correspondence he has failed to reply to and that he has had 'no creative thing for months now neither painting or writing'. Second letter 9th May 1956- starts that this is a short letter 'as I've not been awfully well.' He writes about Hilary Pepler, who had been a founder along with Eric Gill and Desmond Chute in 1920 of the Catholic community of craftsmen at Ditchling. Jones goes on to say that he had been asked to write a piece on Pepler - 'Hilary's memory deserves to be commended in some small way I feel. I was much devoted to him; but it seems long ago now & I dont know quite what can be said quite (sic). Jones discusses the hymn "Vexilla Regis" and the fact he needed to correct some mistakes he had made about it in a letter to the Tablet - ' I meant of course for the last time in that particular G.F. association with its huge phallic & vulgar significance...' Jones entitled a 1947 painting "Vexilla Regis", and mentions the hymn in The Anathemata. ......Good Friday, How can the day of the Dying God be also a Nuptial Feast? The final part of the letter he writes about Eric Gill and his wife Mary- 'I remember when Eric was alive they used to say they would end their days in a tiny house they purchased [at Capel] at that time, to [be] buried by the stream in a meadow called the "The Dole". He finishes with a long explanation of and misuse of the word dol. Fine both letters folded for posting.
Price £2750.00
