The Hermit’s Dog, from William Hayley’s "Ballads"
This small print illustrates a poem by William Hayley and is one of a series centered on unusual encounters between people and animals. In 1800, after Blake's ambitious illustrations to Grey's "Night Thoughts" failed commercially, he accepted an invitation from Hayley to move into a cottage that the latter owned at Felpham in Sussex. In return, Blake set to work illustrating a new edition of his host's poetry. The association proved artistically stifling for Blake but did produce an interesting series demonstrating Blake's skills as a reproductive printmaker. A quarto sized volume of 1802 was followed by an octavo sized book issued in 1805, containing additional poems, including "The Friar's Dog."
Artwork Details
- Title: The Hermit’s Dog, from William Hayley’s "Ballads"
- Artist: William Blake (British, London 1757–1827 London)
- Publisher: Richard Phillips (British, active 1803–12)
- Author: Related author William Hayley (British, 1745–1820)
- Date: 1805
- Medium: Etching and engraving
- Dimensions: Image: 4 1/4 × 2 15/16 in. (10.8 × 7.5 cm)
Sheet (trimmed within plate): 5 1/2 × 3 3/8 in. (14 × 8.5 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Bequest of Raymond L. Neinstein, 2021
- Object Number: 2021.304
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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William Blake
1841–50
Multiple artists/makers
1885, facsimile of 1790
Multiple artists/makers
1904
Multiple artists/makers
1965
Multiple artists/makers
March 1, 1813
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