Wielding a large club in one hand and distinctive by its prominent erection, the male figure is of uncertain date, but recent research suggests it may be 10th-century in origin. An important part of regional folklore and local cultural mythologies, the Cerne Abbas giant is one of only two major extant human hill figures in England. The other, the Long Man of Wilmington, in East Sussex, was memorably recorded in a watercolour of 1939 by one of Nash’s contemporaries, Eric Ravilious.

Nash made a watercolour of the Giant, during 1935, his most productive year in Dorset, and another, more highly finished rendition, on his final tour of the country in 1943.

Paul Nash

Cerne Abbas Giant

1935

Pencil and watercolour

28 x 39.4 cm

Private collection

References:

Andrew Causey, Paul Nash Catalogue Raisonné (Oxford, 1980) cat. no.827

Penny Denton, ‘Seaside Surrealism’ Paul Nash in Swanage (Durlstone, 2002) cat.no.15

Sotheby’s online sales catalogue

http://www.artnet.com/artists/paul-nash/the-cerne-abbas-giant-dorset-Vv3wczhXgYsOdjm2dY8DVw2

Paul Nash

Cerne Abbas Giant

1943

Chalk and watercolour with colour notes

29.8 x 39.4 cm

Literature:

Andrew Causey, Paul Nash Catalogue Raisonné (Oxford, 1980) cat. no.1127

Penny Denton, ‘Seaside Surrealism’ Paul Nash in Swanage (Durlstone, 2002) cat.no.80