Artistic works and related material

The group comprises drawings and artwork of David Jones found amongst his papers, papers relating to his work as an artist, catalogues of exhibitions by him and others, invitations to exhibitions, and postcards and artwork which he accumulated.

David Jones attended the Camberwell School of Art (where A. S. Hartrick was a teacher), 1910-1914, and the Westminster School of Art, 1919-1921. In 1921 he met Eric Gill and the following year moved to Ditchling to join his company of craftsmen, and made illustrations for St Dominic's Press. He painted landscapes, seascapes and interiors, and also became an illustrator employing wood and metal engraving.
In 1927 he became a member of the society of wood engravers, and also engraved illustrations for The Chester Play of the Deluge, published by the Golden Cockerel Press. In 1929 he was elected to the 'Seven and Five Society' of artists, and in the same year produced ten illustrations for Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. He produced watercolours until his breakdown in 1932, when he stopped painting until 1937. During the Second World War he created his painted inscriptions using letters in Welsh, Latin and English, and in the early 1940s he painted mythological watercolours. From his breakdown in 1947 onwards he painted from windows, mainly trees, girls and still-life. In 1961 he became a member of the Royal Watercolour Society.
He was represented in many art exhibitions, especially during the 1940s and 1950s, including the National Gallery (1940), Tate Gallery (1942), CEMA touring exhibition in Wales (1944), British Council touring exhibition (1945-46), Redfern gallery (1948), Festival of Britain (1951), Venice Biennale (1951), Brooklyn, USA (1951), Welsh Committee of the Arts Council of Great Britain touring exhibition in Wales (1954-55), and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (1962). He was represented in the Arts Council Great Britain touring exhibitions (1970 and 1971), the National Book League exhibition in London 'Word and image' (1972), and the Welsh Arts Council and National Museum of Wales touring exhibition, 'David Jones, writing and drawings' (1972-1973). In 1964 he was awarded the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales gold medal.

Arranged into three series: artistic work, papers relating to David Jones' art, and collected material.

David Jones attended the Camberwell School of Art (where A. S. Hartrick was a teacher), 1910-1914, and the Westminster School of Art, 1919-1921. In 1921 he met Eric Gill and the following year moved to Ditchling to join his company of craftsmen, and made illustrations for St Dominic's Press. He painted landscapes, seascapes and interiors, and also became an illustrator employing wood and metal engraving.
In 1927 he became a member of the society of wood engravers, and also engraved illustrations for The Chester Play of the Deluge, published by the Golden Cockerel Press. In 1929 he was elected to the 'Seven and Five Society' of artists, and in the same year produced ten illustrations for Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. He produced watercolours until his breakdown in 1932, when he stopped painting until 1937. During the Second World War he created his painted inscriptions using letters in Welsh, Latin and English, and in the early 1940s he painted mythological watercolours. From his breakdown in 1947 onwards he painted from windows, mainly trees, girls and still-life. In 1961 he became a member of the Royal Watercolour Society.
He was represented in many art exhibitions, especially during the 1940s and 1950s, including the National Gallery (1940), Tate Gallery (1942), CEMA touring exhibition in Wales (1944), British Council touring exhibition (1945-46), Redfern gallery (1948), Festival of Britain (1951), Venice Biennale (1951), Brooklyn, USA (1951), Welsh Committee of the Arts Council of Great Britain touring exhibition in Wales (1954-55), and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (1962). He was represented in the Arts Council Great Britain touring exhibitions (1970 and 1971), the National Book League exhibition in London 'Word and image' (1972), and the Welsh Arts Council and National Museum of Wales touring exhibition, 'David Jones, writing and drawings' (1972-1973). In 1964 he was awarded the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales gold medal.

Preferred citation: A

See also papers relating to Epoch and Artist, correspondence with galleries, and letters relating to art, all in the David Jones Papers. -- NLW holds inscriptions and watercolours by David Jones including inscription of 'Accendat in nobis', 'Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrydorion', 'Beird byt barnant', 'Cara Wallia derelicta', 'Optima musa veritas', 'Et ex patre natum', '..I Saunders[Lewis] oddiwrth Dafydd....', 'Pwy yw'r gŵr'; watercolours of 'Capel y Ffin', 'Cloelia cornelia', 'Llys Ceimiad : La Bassée Front 1916', 'Ongyrede', and 'Tir y Blaenau'. Also wood engravings of 'Book of Jonah', 'Hermes & Sculptor from Aesop's Fables' with some original wood engraving blocks. -- There are also works of art by David Jones at other galleries, including the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, Tate Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

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