Christ and the Miraculous Draught of Fishes - Designed for St Andrew's, Croydon

The present work is a study for the relief St Andrew Casting His Net that was sold at Christie's, London, on 8 June 2007, lot 130. In November 1933 Eric Gill was commissioned by Oliver Hill to design a Portland stone memorial for St Andrew’s Church in Croydon. Gill made preparatory drawings for the relief in late 1933 and early 1934, before completing the work on 22 December 1934. The present study is much like the relief with Christ steering at the prow of the boat, while St Andrew fishes over the side of the boat with a net. The only exception is that the net contains a number of fish in the present study, whereas in the carving three small figures are seeking salvation.