Gill, Eric. Clothes. [Inscribed by Eric Gill to the Actor Leslie French]. An Essay upon the Nature and Significance of the Natural and Artificial Integuments worn by Men and Women by Eric Gill. With ten diagrams engraved by the Author. First Edition. London, Jonathan Cape, 1931. 19 x 12 cm. 196, (4). With ten Illustrations by Eric Gill. Original textured cloth. Gilt title on spine. Very good condition. Binding, rubbed, bumped and partially faded (see images). Edges and end papers. Age darkened. Authors inscription to Leslie French on front free end paper, dated 11.6.31. Occasional mild spotting, otherwise clean.

Arthur Eric Rowton Gill (1882 – 1940) was an English sculptor, typeface designer, and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement.
Leslie Richard French (1904 – 1999) was a British actor of stage and screen.
French was primarily a theatre actor, as well as a director, singer, and dancer, with a varied career that included the classics, musical revue, pantomime, and ballet. He became most associated with the role of Ariel in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and over the years he essayed many of Shakespeare’s spirits and clowns, such as Puck, Feste and Touchstone.
In 1930, he joined the Old Vic company, where he played Poins in Henry IV, Part I, Eros in Antony and Cleopatra, the Fool in King Lear and the role with which he became most associated with, Ariel in The Tempest. This latter role saw him share the stage with contemporaries John Gielgud (as Prospero) and Ralph Richardson (as Caliban), the first time these two actors appeared on stage together. French was the first male actor to essay the role of Ariel for many years and did so in nothing more than a small loincloth, helping to make this version something of a talking point at the time. French and Gielgud were also the inspiration for Eric Gill’s carving of Prospero and Ariel above the entrance to the then new Broadcasting House in Portland Place.
French continued his stage career at the Old Vic and later the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park, specialising in Shakespeare’s spirits and clowns, such as Puck, Feste, Touchstone and of course Ariel, roles greatly enhanced by his singing and dancing ability. He also directed several plays including successful stagings of The Taming of the Shrew and As You Like It. As well as the classics, French also appeared in musical revue, pantomime, and ballet. French made the occasional foray into film and television, appearing in two Luchino Visconti films, The Leopard (1963) and Death in Venice (1971), as well as many British television programmes. (Wikipedia).

• Keywords: Art · Art & Design · Fine Bindings & Editions · Great Britain · History · Literature · Modern Literature · Reference
• Language: English
• Signed/inscribed
• First edition
• Inventory Number: 103063AB

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