Eric Gill

Commissioned in 1937 by A.H. Gardner for the main entrance of Coventry Hospital

Judith Collins, Eric Gill: The Sculpture: A Catalogue Raisonné, Herbert Press, London, 1998, no.277, illustrated p.213. 

Please note that the following condition report has been prepared by Plowden & Smith Ltd., 190 St. Ann's Hill, London, SW18 2RT (tel: +44 (0) 208 874 4005): The panel measures 1400 mm high by 1300 mm wide and is approximately 150 mm thick. It has been removed from a wall with part of the brickwork still attached. The original carved panel appears to be an oolitic limestone. However a sizeable section to the right measuring approximately 400 mm x 1200 mm is made up in brick with a Portland cement type render. This render is a poor colour match. The backing to the render appears to be unsupported brick and as such should be considered vulnerable. The damage to the panel is extensive. Through the heads of both figures, from the top right runs a fissure. This is not recent damage but rather the effect of weathering and possibly differential architectural movement over many years. The panel has not cracked all the way through at this point but is very close to doing so. This should be mechanically consolidated with sizeable cramps added to the back. The cracks could then be cleaned and grouted. This could then be toned in and made good. To the bottom right of the panel a large section approximately 570 mm x 470 mm is detached. This has been repaired before and has Portland type cement along the bond joints. This cement should be removed as far as possible. It is likely that the cement is embedded into the oolitic surface. Realistically then it may not be possible to remove it without damaging the object. This piece should then be reinstated with stainless steel dowels and epoxy resin. To the right of this piece there may be a 100 mm section of the edge missing. It was not possible to view this corner in situ. The large area of cement render is difficult to assess. Possibly some further research needs to be done. Is this part of the original design? Does it replace an original area now lost? Or is it nothing to do with the original and should be discarded? If it is retained it needs to be repaired in two places and then reattached to the main body of the limestone. It should also be recoloured or limewashed to match the original. A decision could be made to discard the cement render and replace it with a matching piece of limestone. This would also have to be cramped securely to the main limestone panel. A third option is to remove the cement render completely. This would however leave the panel in an irregular shape. Finally a fourth option would be to remove the cement render and replace it with limestone that is cut to a deeper depth and chiseled rough to leave a textured surface. Whilst visually balancing the work it would also leave no misunderstanding as to what is original and what is not. If after research it is the client's decision to remove the rendered areas this would be our preferred method of finish. Reinforcement of the whole panel could be carried out with a large panel of slate. The cramps and dowels alone are not really sufficient to support an oolitic limestone panel of this size. Oolitic limestone has a good compressive strength but poor tensile strength. This means that cramps and dowels alone would not be a sufficient method of holding a panel of this size together. There would be a risk of further cracks and fissures developing around the cramps. Our method would be to provide a 50 mm piece of slate about 20 mm smaller than the limestone in width and height. Between slate and limestone panel we would insert a 6 mm panel of Hexlite resin board. This would provide good reversibility. This would then be mechanically attached to the limestone with epoxy resin and small stainless steel nuts and bolts in a reversible manner. Recommended Treatment: Option 1 - Retaining Cement Render To: mechanically consolidate the crack to the oolitic limestone with several stainless steel cramps To: fill and make good approximately 1200 mm of fissures to oolitic limestone To: remove cement to a 600 mm x 150 mm area to previous restoration to lower right hand corner if possible To: reinstate lower right hand corner To: fill and make good repair to lower right hand corner To: provide 200 x 100 x 200 mm corner of limestone to lower right To: make two repairs to cement render To: fill and make good repairs to cement rendered panel To: reattach cement render to oolitic limestone To: provide large panel of slate To: provide 6 mm Hexlite resin board To: fit panel of slate and Hexlite to the back To: provide stainless cramps, nuts, bolts etc Option 2 - Discarding Cement Render To: mechanically consolidate the crack to the oolitic limestone with several stainless steel cramps To: fill and make good approximately 1200 mm of fissures to oolitic limestone To: remove cement 600 x 150 mm area to previous restoration to lower right hand corner if possible To: reinstate lower right hand corner To: fill and make good repair to lower right hand corner To: provide 200 x 100 x 200mm of limestone for lower right corner To: remove and discard cement rendered area Option 3 - Discarding Cement Render and Replacing with New Stone To: mechanically consolidate the crack to the oolitic limestone with several stainless steel cramps To: fill and make good approximately 1200 mm of fissures to oolitic limestone To: remove cement 600 x 150 mm area to previous restoration to lower right hand corner if possible To: reinstate lower right hand corner To: fill and make good repair to lower right hand corner To: provide 200 x 100 x 200mm of limestone for lower right corner To: remove and discard cement rendered area To: provide matching piece of limestone to replace cement render To: attach new piece of limestone To: chisel surface of new limestone To: drill dowel and bond new limestone into position To: tone in new limestone for textured finish To: provide 6mm panel of Hexlite resin board To: provide large panel of slate To: fit panel of slate and Hexlite to the back To: provide stainless cramps, nuts, bolts etc
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Though Gill had made the drawings for this relief in November 1937, it was not until 31st October 1938 that he began work, carving the relief in situ above the main entrance of Coventry Hospital. The task occupied him for thirteen days in succession and is listed as Job 1436 in Gill's ledgers.

Only two years after its completion, the relief was damaged during the most devastating of the Coventry bombing raids on the night of 14th November 1940. Though the hospital displayed a large red cross of lights on its roof, this did not offer it much protection with hits occurring at 8p.m. and then again half an hour later. Though the raids destroyed half of the in-patient accommodation and several wards, and starved the hospital of water, sewerage, electricity and windows, it continued to receive at least 300 casualties during the night with surgeons carrying out operations without electricity or even a roof over their heads. Miraculously, despite the impact of the raids, not one patient's life was claimed.

This lot is available for viewing by appointment only at Sotheby's Warehouse, Kings House. Please contact a member of the department for full details.