Prix Pictet nominee 2011
PRINT INFORMATION
Edition 12 + 3 A/P. Framed Fuji archival Lambda print in black box frame.
Each embossed with editioned signature title label.
Print size 1: 890 x 590mm . Edition 8
Print size 2: 1810 x 1210mm. Edition 4
Each embossed with editioned signature title label.
Print size 1: 890 x 590mm . Edition 8
Print size 2: 1810 x 1210mm. Edition 4
Title: Acts of Parliament Acts of Parliament Vol. IV Undated Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. none Bookplate - none For availability email HERE |
Title: Campbell's Chief Justices The Lives of The Chief Justices of England Vol. I John Lord Campbell, LL.D., F.R.S.E. 1858 [Second edition; originally published 1849] Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 1309 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Curiosities of Literature - Disraeli Curiosities of Literature Vol I Isaac Disraeli 1849 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 1260 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Cyrano de Bergerac - E. Rostand Cyrano de Bergerac Edmond Rostand 1901 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 1267 Bookplate - 59 Strand For availability email HERE |
Title: History of Napoleon I - Lanfrey The History of Napoleon the First Vol. IV P. Lanfrey 1879 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 1819 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Burnet's History of the Reformation The History of the Reformation of the Church of England Vol.I Gilbert Burne 1850 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 1822 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Imagination and Fancy - Leigh Hunt Imagination and Fancy or Selections from the English Poet Leigh Hunt 1846 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 1862 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Lectures on Art - Weekes Lectures on Art Henry Weekes 1880 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 1931 Bookplate - 440 Strand For availability email HERE |
Title: Lives of the Queens of England From the Norman Conquest Vol. VII Agnes Strickland 1857 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 1313 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Outlines of Astronomy – Herschel Outlines of Astronomy Sir John F.W. Herschel, Bart 1859 [Sixth Edition; originally published 1849] Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 1985 Bookplate - 59 Strand For availability email HERE |
Title: Peaks, Passes, and Glaciers Peaks, Passes, and Glaciers A series of Excursions by Members of the Alpine Club 1859 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 2003 Bookplate - 440 Strand For availability email HERE |
Title: Plurality of Worlds Of the Plurality of Worlds. An Essay Published anonymously 1859 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 2026 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Byron's Poetical Works - Don Juan The Poetical works of Lord Byron Vol. VI 1856 [Cantos IV-XVI of Don Juan] Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 2034 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Wordsworth’s Poetical Works The Poetical Works Of Wordsworth Undated, but c. 1880-1889 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 2046 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Russell’s Modern Europe The History of Modern Europe Vol.IV William Russell 1850 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 3414 Bookplate - 59 Strand For availability email HERE |
Title: Dante - Cary The Vision; or Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise Dante Alighieri Translated by The Rev. Henry Francis Cary, MA 1847 [A New Edition, originally published in 1814] Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 2302 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Truths Illustrated Truths Illustrated by Great Authors 1852 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 2274 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Smith’s Wealth of Nations An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Adam Smith 1828 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 2324 Bookplate - Angela Burdett-Coutts For availability email HERE |
Title: Dickens Works – Edwin Drood etc Works of Charles Dickens Vol.XXX The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and other Stories Undated, but c. 1873-6 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 1558 Bookplate - 59 Strand For availability email HERE |
Title: Works of Thackeray- The Four Georges - English Humourists The works of William Makepeace Thackeray Vol. XXIII 1889 Coutts & Co. Library cat. no. 2378 Bookplate - 440 Strand For availability email HERE |
STATEMENT
In 2006, Coutts & Co, one of the oldest and most prestigious banking firms in London, commissioned the artist, Veronica Bailey, to explore its remarkable archive, which dates back to the bank’s foundation in 1692, with the intention of inspiring a new body of work that both “createsa Coutt’s narrative, as well as visual intrigue”
For her solution, Bailey unlocked the glass-fronted cabinets of the Old Staff Library, located on the fourth floor at the Coutts headquarters, 440 Strand. During this process she examined over 1,000 books, many bearing fine tooled leather bindings with luscious marbled or gilded page edges.
The Old Staff Library was established in the 1850s by Thomas Coutts’ granddaughter, Angela Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906), who donated a substantial number of her own books to the collection. Visiting the library regularly, Bailey developed an alternate narrative by focussing on a specific selection of titles, published between 1800 and 1901. During this process, she re-interpreted the Coutts books as Neo-gothic monuments, reflecting a wealth of architectural splendour and decoration; evidence of a wealthy and prosperous economy within the banking world of nineteenth century Britain. The final assemblage of artworks represent the spirit of that time - from significant changes via war, social discontent, self-reflection, to new economic and technical advancements. Within Hours of Devotion lies a collective shift in consciousness, centred upon the realms of religion, politics, and culture - it is a unique portrait of concerns and aspirations.
PRINT INFORMATION
Edition 12 + 3 A/P. Framed Fuji archival Lambda print in black box frame.Print size 1: 890 x 590mm . Edition 8
Print size 2: 1810 x 1210mm. Edition 4
For PRICING & AVAILABILITY please send an email HERE
All artwork and images © Veronica Bailey 2024.