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Spiritual Conceits

Book Illustration
1862 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Book illustration depicting a rectangular frame in the centre of which two hands shake, one emerging from an orb on which is a skull and the other from a heart on which is a bright butterfly.

Proof of book illustration opposite 'The Paradox' by St.Gregory Nazianzen on 22 p. in 'Spiritual Conceits'. W. Harry Rogers drew on wood for this engraving to be made by the wood-engraver Joseph Swain.

'With the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of Sin.'
Romans vii.25

There is a framework of sharp creases enclosing the border of the book illustration closely.

'Spiritual Conceits' extracted from the Writings of the fathers, the Old English poets, ec. (sic) & illustrated by W. Harry Rogers London (Griffith & Farran, corner of St. Paul's Churchyard 1862 MDCCCLVII'


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSpiritual Conceits (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Wood engraving on laid paper
Brief description
Book illustration to 'Spiritual Conceits', 1862, designed by W. Harry Rogers and engraved on wood by Joseph Swain.
Physical description
Book illustration depicting a rectangular frame in the centre of which two hands shake, one emerging from an orb on which is a skull and the other from a heart on which is a bright butterfly.

Proof of book illustration opposite 'The Paradox' by St.Gregory Nazianzen on 22 p. in 'Spiritual Conceits'. W. Harry Rogers drew on wood for this engraving to be made by the wood-engraver Joseph Swain.

'With the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of Sin.'
Romans vii.25

There is a framework of sharp creases enclosing the border of the book illustration closely.

'Spiritual Conceits' extracted from the Writings of the fathers, the Old English poets, ec. (sic) & illustrated by W. Harry Rogers London (Griffith & Farran, corner of St. Paul's Churchyard 1862 MDCCCLVII'
Dimensions
  • Height: 22.4cm
  • Across the widest part width: 16.4cm
Credit line
Purchased with the Assistance of the Friends of the National Libraries
Object history
Historical significance: These book illustrations are part of the W.Harry Rogers Archive and to quote the information on the archive provided by 'RW' on 6 February 1998 on the registered file 1997/1476:-
'It is extraordinarily rare to have this kind of documentation at this level of production for the middle decades of the 19th century. The fact the (sic) the state of the designs ranges from rough sketches to finished drawings and proofs allows the pieces to document the design process very closely.'
Production
'the fact that the editor and the artist are the same person is, probably a novel feature.' from 'To the Reader' introduction by W. Harry Rogers.
Bibliographic references
  • Engen, Rodney K. 'Dictionary of Victorian Wood Engravers'. Cambridge: Chadwyck-Healey, 1985. 223 p. and 251 p. ISBN 0859641392
  • Houfe, Simon 'The Dictionary of British Book Illustrators and Caricaturists'. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Baron Publishing, Antique Collectors' Club, revised 1981 437 p. ISBN 0902028731
  • Ball, Douglas 'Victorian Publishers' Bindings.' London: The Library Association, 1985. 90 p. and 155 p.
Collection
Accession number
E.1042-1998

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Record createdMarch 24, 2000
Record URL
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