[Margot Hamilton Hill]
Margot Hamilton Hill (later Daniels) was an illustrator, theatre designer, and lecturer on the history of fashion and theatre design. The present ink drawing is a working illustration for the book The Evolution of Fashion. Pattern and Cut from 1066 to 1930, co-written by Hill and Peter A. Bucknell and published by Batsford in 1967. Hill provided 56 full-page drawings for the book, each one depicting accurate trends in male and female historical dress against an appropriate period backdrop. This drawing is reproduced in a reduced-scale on page 39 of the book, titled '1420 Henry V'. It illustrates a man and woman, both with 'houppelande', belt and elaborate head dress. The couple are placed in front of a cloth screen, with bench, book and dog. Hill's working methods can be clearly seen in the artwork; her figures have been cut out and placed onto a new sheet with the background, and white paint has been used for corrections. All 56 drawings, including this work, were exhibited at a selling exhibition at the Grosvenor Gallery, London in November 1967.
Margot Hamilton Hill. England. [c.1967.] Ink and pencil drawing to ivory paper, occasional white corrections and accents, label with page and date indication applied to top left corner; pasted to light brown board. Drawing size - 525 x 403mm; board size - 585 x 475mm. English. 525 x 403mm. 1kg. . Very good; slight waviness to surface, occasional pencil marks to show working design; remains of tape to verso of board.
