William Caxton Prints The Bible (Signed) (Original)
Medium: Gouache on Board
Size: 13" x 18" (340mm x 450mm)
Date: 1981
Signature: Signed by artist lower left
Code: PhillippsCaxtonLL
This is the Signed unique original Gouache painting by William Francis Phillipps.
William Caxton was an English merchant, diplomat, writer and printer. He is thought to be the first Englishman to introduce a printing press into England, in 1476, and was the first English retailer of printed books. He is seen here showing a priest some Bible verses in English, he was probably the first person to have the Bible translated and printed in English.
A wonderful large painting of this momentous event by William Francis Phillips. No defects at all and cleverly signed on the edge of the print block (lower left).
Published in Look and Learn #996 11th April 1981.
- Artist BiographyWilliam Francis Phillipps (Active 1950s - 1980s)
Remarkably little is known about this prolific and very accomplished British artist and illustrator. Famed for his paperback cover art, he painted the front covers for many Agatha Christie Pan Books during the early 1960s and was an illustrator par excellence for several children's titles (across the ages) including Look and Learn, Treasure, Once Upon A Time and Teddy Bear.
He illustrated many other covers including a remarkable series of western paperback covers for New English Library in the 1970s by J T Edson as well as for the popular Edge and Adam Steele wild west series.
He also illustrated many books including 'The Mysterious World of Dinosaurs' and the magazine series 'Birds That Cannot Fly', both in 1980.
He was equally at home painting cosy children's nursery rhymes, gritty western covers, Bible stories, vivid natural history portraits (mostly fauna, including Dinosaurs), plus many other subjects.