David Hockney | Illustrations for Fourteen Poems from CP Cavafy
David Hockney's "Illustrations for Fourteen Poems from C P Cavafy" were published in 1966 in the various edition forms noted below. They are extremely rare in the market place and, after 18 years of looking, we are very fortunate to have found a complete set in good condition.
The etchings printed on the smaller sized paper sheets are from the book edition. Normally these would not be shown unbound from their book casing because the book is signed by the artist only on the title page and on the loose etching included with the Book Edition A.
The set we have is an exception to this editioning. It was owned by Stanley (Tony) Allen, an art dealer for De Chirico's estate, who hosted David Hockney as a house guest at his home in Rome in the early 1970s.
Hockney was traveling with the writer Stephen Spender, who was a co-translator for these poems, and Patrick Procktor, a British painter. As a gesture of gratitude, David Hockney signed each page of his Roman host's book of these prints. They were unbound in the late 1970s and shown in Tony Allen's gallery, Gallerie Medusa in Rome, but not offered for sale at that time.
Tony Allen is now in his eighties and while still active as a dealer, he is selling much of his inventory as preparation for retirement. When we purchased these from Tony Allen, we wrote to Hockney's studio in Los Angeles and asked for authentication of the signed prints. We have a letter from Tony Allen describing the provenance of the suite and a letter from David Hockney's studio confirming the authenticity of these prints as being signed for Allen by Hockney thirty years ago.
Click to enlarge any image below:
THE BEGINNING (detail at right)
Etching, 18.5 x 13 inches, Book Edition A, Ed/500
$3,750. framed
TO REMAIN (detail at right)
Etching, 18.5 x 13 inches, Book Edition A, Ed/500
$2,250. framed
THE SHOP WINDOW OF THE TOBACCO STORE
Etching, 18.5 x 13 inches, Book Edition A, Ed/500
$2,250. framed
From the Book Edition A Numbered 1 to 250 of 500, includes twelve etchings bound in a magenta silk covered book casing with one additional unbound etching Portrait of Cavafy II, signed by Hockney.
The Book Edition B (not part of our exhibition) was numbered 251 to 500 and was published without the additional etching
From the Portfolio Edition C Numbered 1 to 50 of 75, published as twelve loose etchings (without a portfolio casing), each print signed and numbered by Hockney
About ILLUSTRATIONS FOR FOURTEEN POEMS FROM C P CAVAFY, 1966
Hockney has always been a brilliant draughtsman and is considered as outstanding a printmaker as he is a a painter. His printwork has been a strong and ongoing part of his career since the start and we are proud to present the early suite of etched illustrations to C P Cavafy's Poems. These images were produced after Hockney returned from a visit to Beirut.
Who is C P Cavafy? Cavafy is considered one of modern Greece's best poets. His intensely homoerotic imagery heavily influenced a diverse faction of artists, like Hockney, as well as some unexpected fans, like Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The Cavafy poem "Ithaca" was her favorite of all poems and it was read at her funeral by her son, John Kennedy, Jr.
In the film "Cavafy," we hear the poet narrate the biographical film from his deathbed. In the narration, you can hear him recall the events that shaped his life. Images unfold of his childhood in Alexandria, where his family led a privileged life until the Arab uprising forced them to flee to Constantinople. There, as a young man, Cavafy discovered the city's erotic night life and gained a new awareness of his own sexuality. Returning to Alexandria as an adult, Cavafy worked by day to earn a living but led an altogether different life at night. He wrote movingly of his nighttime encounters, singing the praises and virtues of the beautiful young men whom he admired.
The editions of these prints were not signed, but Hockney did sign a few sets for gift/dedication purposes. We are happy to say that all of our prints from this series bear Hockney's signature.
