Castle on a Hill in Winter
Relief etching printed from multiple zinc plates, circa 1915-20, edition unknown. 12 7/8 x 9 7/8 in. Signed in pencil, lower right, and inscribed "18" in pencil, lower left. This is a fine impression of an uncommon print. The margins are substantial and the condition is quite good. There's a crease in the lower left margin not affecting the image and mild toning in the margins from an early mount. This exceptional color print was probably based on his sketching trips in Denmark, Germany or Sweden. Giles was one of the outstanding students of Frank Morley Fletcher and he excelled in making his sophisticated color prints. Frankly, it is rather difficult to spot the difference between Giles' early woodcuts and the more sophisticated metal relief etchings. The best discussion of his work to date is Malcolm Salaman's 1928 volume, Masters of the Colour Print IV, published by the Studio, London.
$1,800

Swan and Cygnets
Woodcut printed in colors, 1911, edition 50. 12 1/4 x 15 1/4 in. Signed in the block with his monogram and signed in pencil, lower right. This is a superb impression of this outstanding color print. The margins are full. The condition is fine. This work is illustrated as plate 2 in Malcolm Salaman's Masters of the Colour Print (1928).
$2,600

When Winter Wanes
Relief etching printed from multiple zinc plates, circa 1923, edition probly 100. 11 1/8 x 13 3/8 in. Signed in the plate with the red monogram "WG." Signed in pencil and numbered "34." This is a fine impression of this exemplary work. The condition is very good apart from a residue of an old adhesive along the edges of the sheet, verso, from an early mount. The margins appear to be full. This print is illustrated on the cover of Fine Prints of the Year; A Complete Illustrated Index 1923-1938 (Wofsy, 2006). It was published by P & D Colnaghi, London, who represented the artist for many years. William Giles was elected president of the Society of Graver Printers in Colour in the mid-1920’s, succeeding Theodore Roussel who had been made its first president upon the foundation of the Society in 1909.
SOLD