The Passions. An Ode for Music. Written by William Collins. Designed & Illustrated by William McLaren. London. A.D. MCMXLVI.
by McCLAREN, William, Scottish Painter, Illustrato and Decorative Artist.
Book. Manuscript in pen & blue and purple inks. Sm 4to, orig. lettered paper wrappers, stitched. Title + 8 pp. Illus. A single small water spot on title, otherwise fine. London, 1946. An exquisite illustrated calligraphic manuscript, executed by a 26 year-old McLaren, best remembered as the illustrator of Beverly Nichol's popular series of garden books. The manuscript includes an elaborate ornamental title, within a frame of floral garlands with a cluster of musical instruments at top, three half-page vignettes, and the text in blue ink in a fine calligraphic hand, within neat triple-rule borders. A youthful tour-de-force, executed while McClaren studied under the noted illustrator Joan Hassall at the Edinburgh School of Art, the manuscript mimics French engraved books of the 18th c., and reflects the profound grasp of the decorative arts of earlier times that was to characterize his lifetime work. According to a note laid in, Hassall "gave him much encouragement" and chose Collins' 18th c. poem for McLaren's treatment; the note also states that "a few copies were made for presentation to friends." Neglected for a time, McClaren was the subject of an acclaimed 2010 documentary "William McClaren: An Artist Out of Time," which properly revived interest in the artist's accomplishments in book design, illustration decorative arts and great house mural painting. A reviewer at the time wrote, "The 20th century is wholly absent within [his] design which is what makes McLaren's art unique and rather fascinating. Throughout the 60's and 70's the design and craft of the artist's imagery belongs to another time entirely. Both the visual denial of his own time and the context of his portraiture would be interesting starting points for further film projects, perhaps incorporating some of the artist's compositional devices into the frame. Resoundingly, Hickey and Mitchell have replaced McLaren's unmarked grave in Cardenden with two headstones, one carved, the other on screen, an acknowledgment of a life's work that may have otherwise remained unseen.". (Inventory #: 1263)