Freda Constable

he book opens with a list of plates, and a chronology. The main text, interesting but somewhat reverential in tone, chronicles his life and wide ranging career. The Plates conclude the book; there is no index.

It is an attractively laid out book, and a good size (over 10.5” x 8.5”; 27cm x 21.5cm), however it is let down in a couple of respects. Firstly the quality of reproduction of the text is sub-standard; the problem is probably pre-printing as the illustrations to not appear to be affected. Secondly the images are disappoint small relative to the page size, while the plates a presented one to a page, very few occupying more than half the page area. There are 30 full colour reproductions but disappointingly 34 in black and white, plus a few small black and white engravings accompanying the text.

A valuable book for providing us with a collective of Ravilious’ watercolours, a shame more care was not take with its production; four stars for content ignoring the poorly reproduced text.… (mais)