Publisher/Manufacturer: Gwasg Gregynog (Gregynog Press) Series title: The Romance of Parzival and the Holy Grail (plate 6)
1936 Wood engraving in black on white wove paper
299 x 251 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 is lost in thought clutching his sword, whilst King Anfortas gazes intently at the life-sustaining Grail. The luminous nature of the setting is conveyed through the many candles and especially the Grail whose power is presented by the strong light that emanates from it
Book illustration for the Arthurian legend 'Parzival'; foreground, on the left, a figure with a plumed hat and a princess? with long plaited hair, on the right, a dog plays with a jester-like male figure on the ground who holds a rattle with a comical face in his left hand; middleground, a queen? places the Holy Grail onto an oval shaped table surrounded by a king wearing a crown, Parzival holding a sword, shields with crosses and a crowd of men and women some of whom drink from tankards; background, medieval arches, burning torches and knights in armour. Engraved in fine detail in a symbolist / fantasy style with gravers of varied widths