drawing;
print study
- Museum number
- 1874,1212.112
- Description
-
Sketch for Plate 2, 'Christ Descending into the Grave, With the Keys of Death and Hell', illustration to Blair's 'The Grave'; Christ standing to front with one hand on his chest, with separate sketch of an eagle's head. c.1805
Graphite
Verso: A female figure standing, twisting round, with arms raised. c.1820-5
Graphite
- Production date
-
1805 (circa, recto)
-
1820-1825 (circa, verso)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 235 millimetres
-
Width: 185 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- In the final watercolour and the engraving, the image illustrates lines 8 and 9 from page oneo fhte poem: 'Eternal King! Whose potent arm sustains/The keys of hell and death', and Christ is shown descending steps, with a doorway behind, flames at His feet, and keys in His hands. Here Christ's right hand is to His breast, the left extended to show the stigmata. An untraced drawing shows a more elaborate composition (Butlin, 1981, no. 622).
For further information about the series, see the facsimile publication, 'William Blake's Watercolour Inventions in illustration of "The Grave" by Robert Blair', ed. Martin Butlin, and including essays by him and by Morton D. Paley (The William Blake Trust, 2009).
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: The Grave
- Acquisition date
- 1874
- Acquisition notes
- Collector's stamp. Inscribed by Deffett Francis: "[...erased] very/Fine" and "J.D.F."
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1874,1212.112