The four Gospels of the Lord Jesus Christ ...

Since the mid-nineteenth century the Library has collected fine printings and limited editions as exemplars of the printer and illustrator's art.

The Golden Cockerel Press edition of The Four Gospels is among the greatest books produced in the twentieth century. With a typeface, Golden Cockerel, designed specifically for this work and which would enhance not detract from the wood engravings which decorated many of the pages, The Four Gospels was the private press' best work, 'both the solstice and the sunset' of the press under the ownership of Robert Gibbings.

Englishman Eric Gill, who designed the typeface and who also did most of the wood engravings for the book, wanted a typeface that would suit the engravings, and not be mismatched in any way. Gill described his overall concept for the Golden Cockerel type as 'a heavy closely-massed type suitable for use with modern wood engravings'. This typeface worked well with the richly historiated initial letters mostly engraved by Gill. In many of these the letters act as trellises which support the figures. Gill often used large areas of white in his engravings, which required him to cut away equivalent areas from the wood block. Gill's printing of the four Biblical gospels is a gem of artistry in all its interrelated elements-design, composition, and typography.

Gill made his reputation as a sculptor and wood engraver. he became one of the most prolific and innovative of English type designers. Despite his background in stone masonry, sculpting and wood engraving and a strong early move against technology, he was later to embrace the complicated engineering techniques necessary for producing typefaces. Gill Sans, Golden Cockerel, Joanna, Perpetua, Aries and Bunyan are his best known typefaces. He also collaborated with Edward Johnston in the development of the typeface used by the London Underground Railway.

The second image shows Gill's illustration depicting Mary Magdalene washing and drying Jesus' feet with her hair.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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