ART GALLERY - CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

The art gallery at The Watermill occupies the whole top floor. It is a tranquil space even on the busiest days. Our choice of exhibitions is as independent as our choice of books, so keep an eye out here for the unexpected.

LES METAMORPHOSES
ILLUSTRATED BY
PABLO PICASSO

Saturday 18th May - Sunday 23rd June

The Watermill Bookshop & Gallery is pleased to present this exhibition of prints from Ovid’s Metamorphoses and to make available an exceptional volume of art and literature.

During the 1930s publisher Albert Skira’s Paris office became a meeting place for important artistic figures of the time.
It was on the suggestion of Matisse that Skira convinced Pablo Picasso to illustrate Ovid’s Metamorphoses with 30 etchings.
The Metamorphoses, written by the Roman poet Ovid in 8AD, comprises over 250 myths and chronicles the history of the world from its origins to the deification of Julius Caesar.
As one of the most influential works in Western culture, numerous episodes from the poem have been depicted in works of sculpture, painting and music.
It is here illustrated by one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century.

For the 90th anniversary of the original edition Skira Publishers, in agreement with the Picasso Estate, has produced a stunning facsimile limited to 1,000 copies. The volume includes 15 of Picasso’s etchings separate from the text.

The volume is presented in a slipcase and includes an additional illustrated brochure detailing the history of this legendary book.

The etchings have a rare uniformity of style: spare of line with clean edges and a discreet eroticism.
An additional 15 etchings are printed within the text at the start of the chapters, portraying scenes from the myths.

The book was originally printed on Picasso’s 50th birthday

Facsimile numbered edition of 1,000 copies published by Skira, 2018
Language: like the original edition in French, with introduction in English
24 x 30.5 cm, 408 pages, 30 black & white plates
Price £220