A talk and wood engraving demonstration by Peter LawrenceAbout this Event
In conjunction with Christ Church Library’s latest exhibition, “Beyond the Appliances of Art”: Lewis Carroll and His Illustrators, we are delighted to welcome wood engraver, author and illustrator Peter Lawrence for a talk on the history of wood engraving, including a practical demonstration of the engraver’s craft.
The nineteenth century saw a revolution in the illustration of books and printed materials. Following the pioneering discoveries of Thomas Bewick in Newcastle, the practice of wood engraving spread rapidly, not only in Britain but across the Western world. The demand for pictures that could be printed on the same page and at the same time as text grew exponentially, leading to a division between the roles of artist and professional engraver. By the 1860s, one firm in particular, the Brothers Dalziel, dominated the field and produced what are perhaps the most famous book illustrations of all: those for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Peter’s talk will illustrate the forgotten role of engraving in the translation of artwork to the printed page. During the talk, he will demonstrate how the blocks, tools and techniques of wood engraving have remained remarkably consistent to this day. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take a print from one of Peter’s engraved blocks.
Peter Lawrence began wood engraving in the 1990s alongside his full-time career as a book designer. He served as Chair of the Society of Wood Engravers for five years and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. Four-time winner of the annual Rachel Reckitt Prize for a UK engraving, Peter’s work is held in the collections of the Ashmolean Museum, Bodleian Library, British Library, V&A Museum, Christ Church and the Heilongjiang Museum of Printmaking in China. His published books include Alice’s Adventures on the London Underground and The Hunting of the Snark and The Hunting of the Boojum.
The talk will take place in Christ Church Art Room. Attendees should assemble in Christ Church Upper Library from 5:30 PM, where there will be an opportunity to see the exhibition. A member of staff will escort visitors to the Art Room for the 6:00 pm talk.
Tickets are free but booking is essential.
Please note that there is no step-free access to the Upper Library or the Art Room, which may cause difficulty for visitors with limited mobility.
Event Venue
Christ Church Upper Library, St Aldate's, Oxford, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
