SOURCE: "Considerations on Eric Gill," in The Dublin Review, No. 431, October, 1944, pp. 118-34.

In the following essay, Shewring reconsiders Gill's work in light of the relationship between the beautiful and the useful.

Two new books by Eric Gill¹ have heartened his disciples by their mature reaffirmation of characteristic principles and their reinforcement of many familiar positions; they have also interested many who before his death knew little of him but were won to some allegiance by his Autobiography. At the same time they have called forth a number of criticisms—voiced in reviews of the books themselves and in general discussions of his work, in print or in conversation—which since they repeat similar criticisms in the past may be taken to spring from difficulties sincerely and widely felt. Given the importance of his teaching, these misunderstandings of it deserve attention, and I therefore propose to examine a...