Ridler, Anne

The Jesse Tree

London [At the Oxford University Press, by Vivian Ridler for] The Lyrebird Press 1972 Limited Signed by Author and Illustrator Illustrated by John Piper with colour frontispiece, two full page drawings and seven drawings in the text. Folio. [323 x 242 x 10 mm]. 31, [11] pp. Original binding of black cloth over yellow paper boards, pictorial design to upper cover after Piper illustration, spine lettered in gilt, grey endleaves, edges uncut. With original slipcase (repaired). Limited edition of 100 copies, of which this is no.26, signed by the author and the artist. A near fine copy. "The Jesse Tree" was originally devised as a masque, with music by Elizabeth Maconchy. It was specially commissioned for the Abbey Festival in Dorchester and first performed there in 1970. The artist John Piper designed the Tree for the production. The starting point for Ridler's work was the Abbey's beautiful 14th century "Jesse Window" which depicts the descent of Christ from Jesse, the father of King David. The window's intricate stone tracery and stained glass also inspired Piper's drawings for this book, which offers the masque "as a dramatic poem in its own right."

• GBP 200.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: ebc2204

• bookseller: George Bayntun (GREAT BRITAIN)