David Jones: The Maker Unmade

A convert to Catholicism in 1921, English poet and artist David Jones (1895-1974) anchored his art in a religious worldview, yet his fitful embrace of modernism, Celtic mysticism and neo-Romantic symbolism made him unpredictable and difficult to classify. A soldier in the trenches in WWI, he became obsessed with death and destruction, suffered repeated mental breakdowns and agoraphobia. His acceptance of poverty and chastity, after breaking off his engagement to the daughter of his mentor, Eric Gill, in 1927, added a testing blend of medieval Christianity to his often pessimistic vision. During WWII, Jones's darkly wild symbolist paintings mirrored his sense of the crack-up of Western civilization. His output includes piercing portraits, enchanted seascapes, sensual drawings of trees, elegant inscriptions in Latin, expressionist room interiors, small yet powerful stone or wood carvings and sensitive animal drawings. British art historian Miles and Shiel, an art history instructor in London, have unearthed a trove of Jones's watercolors, sketches, carvings and engravings for this comprehensive study, which will surprise even those familiar with Jones's writing and art. (Sept.)