Millett, Robert W. (Lawrence, D.H.)

The Vulture and the Phoenix: Paintings of D.H. Lawrence

ISBN: 087982039X
East Brunswick, NJ: Associated University Presses, 1983. First Printing. Hardcover. From the library of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, with his ownership initials. “On June 14, 1929, a one-man show of the paintings of D. H. Lawrence opened for public viewing at the Dorothy Warren Gallery in London. Reactions by the public and art critics were mixed, and after three weeks, the Home Secretary, responding to complaints about the subject matter of the works, "raided" the gallery and removed thirteen of the paintings. In the furor that followed this action, many questions about artistic freedom were raised, and eventually the paintings were returned with the stipulation that they would remain unexhibited in England. Published in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition was an impressive volume of colored reproductions of the paintings by the Mandrake Press under the aegis of P. R. Stephenson [1901-1965] to be sold by private subscription. The Mandrake Press edition of The Paintings of D. H. Lawrence — now a collector's item — is the only complete gathering of the exhibited paintings still in existence, since some of the original works have been lost, some have been destroyed, and the surviving paintings have been widely dispersed. This work is the first full-length study of the paintings of Lawrence” (from Front Flap copy). A volume of criticism & history by noted art historian, Robert W. Millet [1947-2007] regarding a particularly intriguing & understudied moment in the artistic life of noted novelist, D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930). Lawrence, a major figure in Modernist letters whose censorship battles prefigured that of the Beats, is here studied from the vantage point his visual art provides, which remarkably was also censored. For those unaware of this chapter in Lawrence’s history, no volume better capsulized the story behind it, & its relevance to his impact & oeuvre, in full. From the library of the late, great Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet & founder of City Lights Books, publisher of many of the Beat Generation writers. Hardcover in unclipped dust-jacket: First Edition, First Printing, though not explicated as such on copyright page. This item is also initialed by the great American poet near top right-hand corner of title page. The poet’s stylized ownership-initialing, in thin, black, felt pen ink, reads: “LF.” In strong fine condition with mild-to-moderate shelf-wear, age-toning, & some light bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; otherwise, clean. Dust-jacket in Fair-Good condition with only mild-to-moderate shelf-wear, age-toning, light scuffing, chipping, bumping & some bump-creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; moderate-to-enunciated rubbing to same at select locales; ink stain at / near bottom left-hand corner of back cover; otherwise, generally clean. Fine / Fair-Good. [Item #8111]

Price: $50.00