ROBERT ANNING BELL (1863-1933) CITY OF LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE . 941/2x29 inches. T. Way, London. Condition B: restoration and overpainting in image; creases in image. Three-sheets. Reims 1358, DFP-I 21, Hiatt p. 283, Affiches Etrangers p. 51.Robert Anning Bell was an important figure in the Arts and Crafts movement who became the director of the school of architecture and applied arts in Liverpool, for whom he designed this poster. The Reims catalogue describes the image as "the coronation of an artist by the Goddess of art." From the moment it first appeared it was lauded by critics all over Europe. Joseph Pennel, writing in Les Affiches Etrangeres considered it as "the most beautiful of all current posters", while Charles Hiatt praised it as "a magnificent piece of decoration, and nothing so fine, in its way, has been seen on English hoardings." Walter Cranes principles of Arts and Crafts design have never been applied so well to such a large format project, and this spectacular poster is as rare as it is historically important. DFP-I 21, Reims 1358, Hiatt p. 283.
