Illustration for Canto II

1788

Charles Heath after Thomas Stothard

Associated Names
Charles Heath

Artist, British, 1784/1785 - 1848

William Blake

Artist, British, 1757 - 1827

Cadell & Davies

Publisher

Thomas Stothard

Artist After, British, 1755 - 1834

Mary Ann Flaxman

Artist After, British, 1768 - 1833

The engraving shows two individuals in an oval frame. On the left, an older man sits in a chair with one arm resting on the armrest and holding a cane. He has shoulder-length curly hair and wears 18th-century attire. On the right, there is a younger woman leaning slightly towards the man. She has curly hair with decorations, wears a long gown, and appears to be reaching towards the man. The background features a textured wall with a floral design.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and engraving on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of William B. O'Neal

  • Dimensions

    design size: 10.8 x 7.2 cm (4 1/4 x 2 13/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1983.103.2.e

Associated Artworks

See all 6 artworks
This is a photograph of a worn, aged book cover. The cover is textured and colored in a dark teal hue with variations and wear marks. The edges are frayed, showing hints of a lighter material. The spine on the left side has significant wear, with parts where the covering has chipped away.

The Triumphs of Temper

William Hayley, William Blake, Cadell & Davies

1803

This is a drawing of a figure in a flowing gown encountering mythical beings. The scene shows the figure standing with folded hands, possibly in a gesture of reverence or contemplation, facing a background with fantastical creatures emerging. These creatures include a hybrid being with the torso and head of a human and a coiled serpent-like lower body. The background is intricately detailed with swirling textures, creating a sense of movement and depth. The composition is framed within a larger page with annotations at the bottom specifying "Canto III Verse 201," alongside names and a publication date.

Canto III, Verse 201

William Blake, William Blake, Cadell & Davies

1803

The image shows two figures in the foreground of an illustration within a book. The man is on the left, wearing a fur-covered outfit and holding a long, coiled object. He has a thick beard and bushy eyebrows. Next to him stands a woman with wavy hair wearing a flowing gown. Behind them is a group of people in elaborate attire, with one person wearing a pointed hat. The background shows an architectural setting with archways and curtains. The book's page indicates it is an illustration for Canto VI, Verse 294, dated May 1, 1803, with the artist and publishers credited below the image.

Canto IV, Verse 294

William Blake, William Blake, Cadell & Davies

1803

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

John F. Dillon. Professor William B. O'Neal [1907-1994], Charlottesville, VA; gift 1983 to the National Gallery of Art.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

in plate, above image, at right: page 42; in plate, below image: Stothard del Heath sculp / Published July.1.st.1788 by T. Cadell, Strand

Wikidata ID

Q74044580

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