The Descent of Man into the Vale of Death, from "The Grave," a Poem by Robert Blair
Original title: The Descent of Man into the Vale of Death, from "The Grave," a Poem by Robert Blair
kurzbeschreibung
Mourners in dark robes stand clustered around the mouth of a rocky cave, some kneeling, others lost in thought. William Blake made this engraving in 1813 to illustrate Robert Blair's poem 'The Grave'. Above the figures a mountain landscape opens out beneath a clouded sky.
Description
The layout is strictly symmetrical: a ring of figures surrounds the cave entrance, a few wrapped in mourning dress, others kneeling or brooding. Light falls from above, modelling the contours of the bodies and the grain of the rock walls. Printed in shades of grey, the sheet joins classical figures to romantic landscape elements.
Context
This plate belongs to a series of illustrations for Robert Blair's poem 'The Grave', first published in 1743. Blake drew the designs for the edition brought out by Cromek in 1808, though the present version was not printed until 1813, by F. Schermann in London. It is a late work in which Blake wrestles with death and redemption.
Impact
The severe symmetry and the falling light lend the scene something solemn, almost ritual. Classical form and romantic landscape meet here in a melancholy, reflective mood that tunes the viewer to the subject of death.
Technique
Engraving: the lines were cut into a metal plate and then printed. Fine hatching builds up graded greys and defines the figures and rock structures with precision. The plate measures 24.1 x 13.5 cm, the paper 27.5 x 15.9 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)