drawing; print study

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Object Type: drawing; print study
Museum number: 1983,1210.25
Description: Canterbury Pilgrims, sketch for the engraving; various figures on horseback riding to the right, through an archway on the left. c.1809-10 Graphite Verso: rough sketch, perhaps for the same Graphite
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Production date: 1809-1810
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Dimensions: Height: 352 millimetres; Width: 954 millimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Study for the engraving - see1856,0209.326 In 1806, Thomas Stothard was commissioned by Robert Cromek to paint the same subject, inspired by Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'. Blake believed Cromek made the commission after seeing his own study for the subject in his studio and accused Cromek and Stothard of exploiting his ideas. Blake's accusations were probably not well-founded as the Elgin marbles were being unpacked at the British Museum at the time and might have inspired Stothard's design. One of Stothard's watercolour sketches for his design was with Christie's South Kensington 9 July 2009, lot 630.
Bibliographic references
Location: Not on display
Exhibition history: 2003 Mar-Nov, London, Tate Britain, 'William Blake, New Displays 2003'
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Acquisition name: Purchased through: Christie's; Purchased through: Stephen Somerville
Previous owner: Previous owner/ex-collection: Catherine Blake; Previous owner/ex-collection: Frederick Tatham; Previous owner/ex-collection: C J Toovey; Previous owner/ex-collection: Henry Cunliffe; Previous owner/ex-collection: Rolf, 2nd Baron Cunliffe of Headley; Previous owner/ex-collection: Hon Merlin Cunliffe
Acquisition date: 1983
Department: Prints and Drawings
Registration number: 1983,1210.25

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