Head of Saint John the Baptist [verso]

Thomas Butts, Jr.

Associated Names
Thomas Butts, Jr.

Artist, British, active c. 1806 - 1808

The image shows an engraving of a bearded man's face, likely from the chest up. The man's head is slightly tilted, with facial features such as the brow and nose depicted through etched lines. His hair is voluminous and curly, flowing outward in swirling patterns. There is no clothing detail visible. The engraving includes a crosshatched pattern in the bottom right corner and a signature, possibly "Ritter A.L." The background is a polished metal surface.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etched copper plate

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 8.1 × 5.87 cm (3 3/16 × 2 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.1848.b

Associated Artworks

This is a photograph of a copper printing plate. The plate displays reverse-engraved text with letters indented into the metal surface. The writing is in an elegant font and is surrounded by ornamental designs. A small illustration of a bird in flight is at the top left corner. The copper's patina gives the plate a brownish tone, contrasting with the polished surface and engraved lines.

Fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy" [recto]

William Blake

1793

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

2000

  • William Blake, Tate Britain, 2000-2001, cat. no. 112.

2001

  • William Blake, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2001, cat. no. 112.

Wikidata ID

Q63570788

You may be interested in

Loading Results