The Confessions of St. Augustine (1909), presented by Temple Scott and illustrated by Maxwell Armfield, offers a striking early 20th-century interpretation of the classic spiritual autobiography. Published in London by Chatto & Windus as part of their “Crown of Love” series, this edition pairs Augustine’s profound theological reflections with Armfield’s distinctive Arts and Crafts-inspired artwork. The illustrations employ a muted earth-toned palette and flattened perspectives that recall medieval illuminated manuscripts, yet with a modern symbolic sensibility perfectly suited to Augustine’s introspective narrative.
Maxwell Armfield particularly excels in visualizing key moments like the garden conversion scene—where swirling patterns in the foliage suggest divine presence—and the famous pear tree episode, rendered with psychological intensity through stark, almost expressionistic lines. The decorative elements throughout the volume, from intricate chapter initials to tailpieces depicting North African flora, create a visual rhythm that mirrors the text’s meditative quality. This edition stands as a remarkable synthesis of ancient text and early modernist design, where Armfield’s stylized figures and symbolic landscapes provide contemplative counterpoints to Augustine’s philosophical passages.
About Maxwell Armfield (1881-1972):
This English painter, illustrator, and writer became a distinctive voice in the Arts and Crafts movement through works like this 1909 edition. Trained at Birmingham School of Art under Arthur Gaskin and later at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris, Armfield developed a unique style blending Pre-Raphaelite detail with Symbolist abstraction. His book illustrations—though fewer than his celebrated tempera paintings—are characterized by elongated figures, compressed pictorial space, and motifs drawn from Byzantine art and Persian miniatures. For this Augustine project, Armfield immersed himself in 4th-century North African iconography, while maintaining his signature approach of “spiritual realism” that made visible the interior struggles of religious experience. Beyond illustration, Armfield co-founded the Tempera Society with his wife Constance Smedley, advocating for traditional techniques in modern art. This 1909 work represents his early period, where his visual language—though not yet fully matured—demonstrates the profound connection between form and spiritual content that would define his later masterpieces like The Blessed Damozel series.
For readers who appreciate this edition, these related works may resonate:
• The Imitation of Christ (1908) illustrated by Armfield – his other major religious illustration project
• The Book of Ruth (1928) illustrated by Paul Nash – offering a modernist biblical interpretation
• Revelations of Divine Love (1901) illustrated by Florence Harrison – another Arts and Crafts spiritual text
Art Gallery: Maxwell Armfield – The Confessions of Saint Augustine 1909
