OILS WATERCOLOURS DRAWINGS

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1 Michael S. Kemp, Bookseller 19 Adelaide Gardens, Minster on Sea Sheerness Kent ME12 3HN OILS WATERCOLOURS DRAWINGS

2 THE ART OF MERVYN PEAKE Mervyn Peake [ ] is best known as the author of the Gormenghast trilogy (Titus Groan, Gormenghast and Titus Alone) published between 1946 and 1959, but he was also an accomplished poet, dramatist, artist and illustrator. As illustrator he tackled many of the classic children s books including Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Swiss Family Robinson, Grimms Fairy Tales, as well as his own Rhymes Without Reason and Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor. This small catalogue represents a cross section of his art in all media. All too frequently the artwork which appears these days seems to consist of minor and unfinished sketches from his later years, or scraps rescued by his students. The dozen or so items here offered are for the most part well executed and finished drawings and paintings from a variety of sources including from his closest friend Gordon (Goatie) Smith. I realise that images in a catalogue rarely do justice to the real thing, so prospective purchasers are welcome to view any item by appointment. Alternatively I regularly exhibit at bookfairs in London where I can bring any item by arrangement. I accept payment by credit/debit card, bank transfer and cheques in sterling drawn on a London bank. Deferred billing can be arranged for institutions. Prices are net, in sterling and include shipping to a U.K. destination. I also carry a large stock of books and periodicals written or illustrated by Mervyn Peake and issue an occasional newsletter of latest additions and special offers. To be included in this regular mailing please contact me at mike@kempbooksellers.co.uk

3 GIRL ON A BEACH [ON SARK?] WITH PARASOL Girl on a Beach [on Sark?] with Parasol. Sark June 24th Charcoal and watercolour. Signed in pencil. Dated June 24 '34. Approx 9 x 7 inches, framed and glazed in old frame. At this period in his life Peake was on the island of Sark in the Chanel Islands as part of an artists' colony and there were a number of exhibitions during It seems likely that the model was a member of the group, or possibly one of the local girls with whom Peake flirted. Early in his career Peake signed his name in full, by the late 1930s he started to use only his surname. 1,100

4 PORTRAIT OF OSCAR WINNER VIVIEN LEIGH An important and interesting portrait of Vivien Leigh as Blanche Dubois for which she won an Oscar in Peake first met Laurence Olivier, then Leigh s husband, in Germany in 1945 and he would use that friendly meeting as an introduction in 1950 when he attempted to persuade Olivier and Leigh to produce and act in his play The Wit to Woo. According to Olivier, Leigh liked the play but his approaches came to nothing and they eventually gave up on it in During this period Leigh played Blanche Dubois in the West End production of Tennessee William s A Streetcar Named Desire and later transferred the role to the screen for Elia Kazan s production, a haunting portrayal which won her an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe Award. Although Peake produced a series of drawings of celebrities for The London Mercury in the 1930s I have never previously seen an oil portrait of any other famous person, his usual subjects being family, friends and characters. Oil on board. 11 ½ x 7 ¾ inches. Framed and glazed. Signed. c ,500

5 ROBUST NUDE NUDE. c Watercolour and ink wash. 38 x 22 cm. Small damp mark at the bottom left hand side. 1,500 framed and glazed

6 SHAPES AND SOUNDS A rare unused illustration from his first book of poems, Shapes and Sounds, Peake had originally suggested that the poems be accompanied by illustrations but the publishers baulked, either due to the cost or the wartime paper restrictions. This is a highly finished version of the central motif used in the final dust wrapper design for the book. Pencil. 11 x 10 inches. Unframed. c

7 WOMAN IN A RAINCOAT A lovely image thought to date from the late 30s or early 40s this is painted in a slightly unusual style for Peake yet is unmistakably his work. Presumably painted from life as there is no trace of the caricature about it, and it has many characteristics of fashion drawings of the time. Pen and ink wash. 13 x 8 inches. Framed and glazed. c Signed. 1500