Artists find inspiration from author Sterne’s marbled page

Sterne explored the limits of typography and print design by including “marbled pages” and, most famously, an entirely black page within the narrative.

The marbled page, described by the author as “the motley emblem of my work”, is, for many, Sterne’s most remarkable stroke of artistic genius.

In 1761, Volumes III and IV of the novel were published a year after Sterne came to live in Coxwold, near York, in the 15th century manor house now called Shandy Hall and Grade I listed.

Now to mark the 250-year anniversary of the marbled page, The Laurence Sterne Trust is opening a new exhibition at Shandy Hall today.

The exhibition, called Emblem of My Work, has been compiled by the trust, which asked 169 artists to create an emblem of their work for display in the gallery at Shandy Hall.

Among the artists on show is sculptor Peter Coates, from Brawby, who has produced a stone marbled page 169 for the exhibition, which runs until October 31.

Sterne lived in Shandy Hall until his death in 1768 and wrote subsequent works in a room which hosts the principal element of the museum’s collection.