Special Exhibitions
Met Logo
Home
Special Exhibitions
Bullet Current Exhibitions
Bullet Upcoming Exhibitions
Bullet Past Exhibitions
Bullet Traveling Exhibitions
Printing Instructions

William Blake

Back to main page for this exhibition
Back to images from this exhibition
Enlarge King Sebert, the North Front of his Monument, 1775
William Blake (British, 1757–1827)
Watercolor, pen and black ink, and shell gold over traces of graphite on paper; 15 3/8 x 11 3/8 in. (39 x 28.9 cm), image 14 1/2 x 11 in. (36.8 x 28 cm)
Society of Antiquaries of London

Description

Description

While apprenticed to the engraver James Basire, Blake prepared an exquisite series of watercolors depicting monuments in Westminster Abbey. Blake's designs served as the basis for engravings used to illustrate various publications of the Society of Antiquaries. (Although the sheets are undoubtedly Blake's work, Basire's signature, as master of the shop, appears on them.) The elegant, serene, and elongated medieval figures would have a profound impact on Blake's mature artistic style. Here, he presents a monument, newly discovered in 1775, of the 7th-century East Anglian king believed to have founded Westminster Abbey.
Next



Home | Works of Art | Curatorial Departments | Collection Database | Features | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | Explore & Learn | The Met Store | Membership | Ways to Give | Plan Your Visit | Calendar | The Cloisters | Concerts & Lectures | Study & Research | Events & Programs | FAQs | Special Exhibitions | My Met Museum | Press Room | Met Podcast | Met Share | Site Index | Now at the Met | MuseumKids

Photograph Credits

Copyright © 2000–2009 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All rights reserved.  Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy.
spacer