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The Grave, A Poem

1813
Not on view
This second edition of "The Grave" was published by Ackermann in 1813. The twelve prints it contains had first been issued by Robert Hartley Comek in 1808, engraved by Schiavonetti. The images are based on watercolors by Blake and proved to be the latter's most popular work with his contemporaries. When Blake received the commission in 1808, he expected to also act as engraver but, Cromek deemed his first plate, "Death's Door," too experimental and gave the job to Schiavonetti. As a result, the project sheds fascinating light on how commercial forces denied a profoundly original artist of the opportunity to translate his own work into print, but also circulated his designs to a wide public.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Grave, A Poem
  • Artist: After William Blake (British, London 1757–1827 London)
  • Etcher: Luigi Schiavonetti (Italian, Bassano del Grappa 1765–1810 London)
  • Author: Poem by Robert Blair (British, 1699–1746)
  • Artist: Frontispiece after Thomas Phillips (British, Dudley, Worcestershire 1770–1845 London)
  • Author: Dedication by William Blake (British, London 1757–1827 London)
  • Author: Attestation by Henry Fuseli (Swiss, Zürich 1741–1825 London)
  • Sitter: William Blake (British, London 1757–1827 London)
  • Publisher: Plates originally published by Robert Hartley Cromek (British, Hull 1771–1812 London)
  • Printer: This edition printed by Thomas Bensley (British, baptised London 1759–1835)
  • Publisher: This edition published by Rudolph Ackermann, London (British, active 1794–1832)
  • Date: 1813
  • Medium: Illustrations: etchings
  • Dimensions: 17 5/8 × 13 3/8 × 7/8 in. (44.8 × 34 × 2.2 cm)
  • Classifications: Books, Prints
  • Credit Line: Gift of Estate of Maurice Everett Hall Jr., also known as Michael Hall, 2021
  • Object Number: 2021.164.3
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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