The Death of the Good Old Man, from "The Grave," a Poem by Robert Blair
Original title: The Death of the Good Old Man, from "The Grave," a Poem by Robert Blair
kurzbeschreibung
William Blake's 1813 engraving belongs to his illustrations for Robert Blair's poem 'The Grave'. An old man's body rests on a coffin, watched over by angels. The print ties the idea of a peaceful death to Christian imagery.
Description
Eyes closed and face calm, the dead old man lies upon a coffin. Three angels kneel at his side: two support his head, the third holds his hands. Above him another angel hovers with wings spread wide, and on the coffin rests an open book inscribed 'THE NEW TESTAMENT'. To the rear right stand a table with a chalice and a bowl. The layout is symmetrical and kept in black and white, with subdued light underscoring grief and reverence.
Context
Made as an illustration to Robert Blair's poem 'The Grave', first published in 1743, this engraving belongs to a series Blake produced between 1805 and 1808; it was printed in 1813 by Robert Cromek. Presenting death as a peaceful passage follows the convention of the day and draws on Christian iconography. Blake's work on the cycle was overshadowed by friction with Cromek, who passed some of the designs to other artists.
Impact
The symmetrical arrangement and the dead man's quiet features give the sheet something sublime and at the same time intimate. Delicate lines and muted light create an atmosphere of still devotion. The contrast between the lifeless body and the living angels lends the image spiritual depth.
Technique
For this engraving the drawing was etched into a copper plate and then printed. Blake worked with fine, highly detailed lines and hatching to build shadow and depth. The plate measures 20.3 x 26 cm, the sheet 23 x 26.5 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)