Publisher/Manufacturer: Gwasg Gregynog (Gregynog Press) Series title: The Romance of Parzival and the Holy Grail (plate 11)
1936 Wood engraving in black on white wove paper
308 x 354 mm. Loan: Gregynog, Davies sisters 1989
Proof taken from the original wood block at Gregynog in 1936. From a set of twelve illustrations for Wolfram von Eschenbach's (d. c.1230) narrative poem 'Parzival'. The blocks for the illustrations were engraved by Mrozewski between September 1933 and June 1934 whilst living in Amsterdam. They were never published in his lifetime. In 1990 Gwasg Gregynog published 'The Romance of Parzival and the Holy Grail', designed by David Esslemont and with an introduction by Carl Lofmark. This proof was reproduced - by offset lithography at Westerham Press, Kent - for one of the illustrations. The volume was published in an edition of 210 at £240. Ten of these had a special binding by James Brockman. Eschenbach's poem was the inspiration behind Richard Wagner's 'Parsival'. Parzival's coronation is a scene that is only implied in Eschenbach's text and not narrated. There is detail in his clothing through his ermine-lined robe and sparkling crown jewel. A sentiment of importance surrounds Parzival as he is crowded by Grail knights and maidens
Book illustration for the Arthurian legend 'Parzival', coronation; foreground, on the left, two knights in armour with lances and a sword, on the right, plants, four hounds and a male figure, wearing a plumed hat and spurs, crawling on the ground; middleground, in the centre, a bishop? crowns prince Parzival, who holds a shield and sword, the Grail King, on the right, a male figure attending to a horse, female figures in medieval costume and a horse ridden by a bearded figure with raised arms; background, a large crowd of soldiers with standards and a large cross. Engraved in fine detail in a symbolist / fantasy style with gravers of varied widths
