Wood engraved proofs of design for the mural decorations for the Northern Line platforms at Charing Cross station, by David Gentleman; British, 1979

Wood-engraved proof of design for the mural decorations for the Northern Line platforms at Charing Cross station showing layout of the mural and incorporating the following images in order: two women mixing mortar and another carrying a large vase-like container on her head and men gathering wood (see E.775-1994), four medieval masons laying the base of one of the Eleanor Crosses (see E.777-1994), two medieval barrowmen, a dog, and other figures in the background carrying baskets (see E.779-1994), two medieval masons, one making a frame and the other carving a coat of arms (see E.778-1994), two masons rough-hewing stone and two men carrying wood between them (see E.780-1994).

Acquired in connection with the display A Fine Line - Commercial Wood Engraving in Britain, V&A, 10 October 1994 - 26 March 1995.

When he was commissioned to design murals for the platforms of Charing Cross underground station, artist David Gentleman (born 1930) chose as his theme the building of the medieval Charing Cross, one of the twelve memorial crosses commemorating Queen Eleanor (who died in 1290). He devised a scheme to take into account the architecture of the station, allowing spaces for entrances and exits and litter bins. He collaged together nearly 50 wood engravings which were then screen-printed onto melamine sheets by Perstorp Waterite Limited. This was the first large-scale application of wood engraving.

E.781-1994