EMILE VERPILLEUX (1888-1964)
St. Paul’s from Cheapside 1912
colour woodcut, signed and dated
14 x 18¼ ins (35.5 x 46.4 cm)
Framed: 24 x 28¼ ins

In St. Paul’s from Cheapside we have an unusual vision of Wren’s cathedral, looking through the bare boughs of City trees, and seeing the beautiful architecture of its northern side and eastern end, with the Corinthian columns that lift the dome majestically skyward. People are passing to and from outside the railings, a few are entering the gates, but between us and the noble building is an envelope of light and atmosphere, which lends the scene poetry, while above is a sky of broken light. This is a true colour-print based on colour-harmony, but it was some time before these prints, with their originality of conception and execution, were recognised – Malcolm Salaman, Masters of the Colour Print III: E.A.Verpilleux, 1927.