Illustrations of the Book of Job, in Twenty-One Plates, Invented and Engraved by WIlliam Blake
Blake
London. Published by the Author & Mr. J. Linnell. 1825. Mar 1826
Sold
One of 65 copies of Blake's Illustrations for the Book of Job, the rarest issue on French paper with the word 'Proof'.
The engravings for the Book of Job were commissioned formally by John Linnell in an agreement of March 25, 1823. Despite a publication date of March 8, 1825 (the plates bear this date), they probably did not appear until early 1826 (the title label states 'March, 1826') and were sold sporadically by Linnell and his heirs (he died in 1882) over the course of the next century. Always fascinated by the Book of Job, Blake's engravings - the last complete series of engravings completed before his death in 1827 - were based on a series of watercolours executed between 1805 and 1806 for his patron Thomas Butts. The first edition was issued in 3 versions: 150 copies on laid India with the word 'Proof', 65 copies on French paper with 'Proof' as here, and 100 on Whatman paper with the word 'Proof' erased.
'It was produced while Blake was still working on Jerusalem, his most obscure book; yet the Illustrations are Blake's most lucid; and they are the Supreme example of his reading the Bible in its Spiritual Sense.' (S. Foster Damon, A Blake Dictionary, pg. 217).
'This [Illustrations for the Book of Job] was the last work he completed, upon the merits of which he received the highest congratulations from the following Royal Academicians: Sir Thomas Lawrence ... and many other artists of eminence.' (John Thomas Smith, Nollekens and His Times, 1828 reeported in Blake Records, pg. 617).
'Are there any greater illustrations to be found? They are Blake's most ambitious, most unchallengeable, series. His inspiration was never richer, and his execution never more consistently maintained.' (Osbert Burdett, William Blake, 1926).
A full list of plates is available on request.
[Binyon 105 - 126; Bentley 421; Ray 313].
The engravings for the Book of Job were commissioned formally by John Linnell in an agreement of March 25, 1823. Despite a publication date of March 8, 1825 (the plates bear this date), they probably did not appear until early 1826 (the title label states 'March, 1826') and were sold sporadically by Linnell and his heirs (he died in 1882) over the course of the next century. Always fascinated by the Book of Job, Blake's engravings - the last complete series of engravings completed before his death in 1827 - were based on a series of watercolours executed between 1805 and 1806 for his patron Thomas Butts. The first edition was issued in 3 versions: 150 copies on laid India with the word 'Proof', 65 copies on French paper with 'Proof' as here, and 100 on Whatman paper with the word 'Proof' erased.
'It was produced while Blake was still working on Jerusalem, his most obscure book; yet the Illustrations are Blake's most lucid; and they are the Supreme example of his reading the Bible in its Spiritual Sense.' (S. Foster Damon, A Blake Dictionary, pg. 217).
'This [Illustrations for the Book of Job] was the last work he completed, upon the merits of which he received the highest congratulations from the following Royal Academicians: Sir Thomas Lawrence ... and many other artists of eminence.' (John Thomas Smith, Nollekens and His Times, 1828 reeported in Blake Records, pg. 617).
'Are there any greater illustrations to be found? They are Blake's most ambitious, most unchallengeable, series. His inspiration was never richer, and his execution never more consistently maintained.' (Osbert Burdett, William Blake, 1926).
A full list of plates is available on request.
[Binyon 105 - 126; Bentley 421; Ray 313].
[22 leaves]. Folio. (405 x 275 mm). Engraved title and 21 engravings by William Blake on French laid paper with the word 'Proof', each printed recto only. (Sheet size: 405 x 275 mm). Original cloth-backed wrappers with original printed label to front cover.
#43765
