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Creator:
William Blake, 1757–1827
Text by Thomas Gray, 1716–1771
Title:
"Her Henry's holy shade..." (Design 15)
Additional Title(s):

Verso: "Say, Father Thames, for thou hast seen..." (Design 16)

Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College
Part Of:

Collective Title: The Poems of Thomas Gray

Date:
between 1797 and 1798
Materials & Techniques:
Watercolor with pen and black ink and graphite on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream wove paper with inlaid letterpress page
Dimensions:
Sheet: 16 1/2 x 12 3/4 inches (41.9 x 32.4 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:

Inscribed in gray ink upper right: "3"; in graphite center: "+"; on verso in gray ink upper left: "4"; in graphite center "+"

Lettered on inlaid page: "ODE | On a Distant Prospect of | ETON COLLEGE. | YE distant spires, ye antique towers, | That crown the wat'ry glade, | Where grateful Science still adores | Her HENRY'S holy shade; | And ye, that from the stately brow | Of WINDSOR'S heights th' expanse below | Of grove, of lawn, of mead survey, | Whose turf, whose shade, whose flowers among | Wanders the hoary Thames along | His silver-winding way. | Ah"; Lettered on verso, on inlaid page: "56 ODE ON A DISTANT PROSPECT | Ah happy hills! ah pleasing shade! | Ah fields belov'd in vain! | Where once my careless childhood stray'd, | A stranger yet to pain! | I feel, the gales that from ye blow, | A momentary bliss bestow, | As waving fresh their gladsome wing, | My weary soul they seem to sooth, | And, redolent of joy and youth, | To breathe a second spring. | Say, Father THAMES, for thou hast seen | Full many a sprightly race | Disporting on thy margent green | The paths of pleasure trace; | Who foremost now delight to cleave, | With pliant arms, thy glassy wave? | The"

Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.11(8)
Classification:
Drawings & Watercolors
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
angel | books | boy | boys | crowns (costume components) | girl | hills | literary theme | man | men | nudes | sailboat | school | shore (landform) | spires | stones | text | trees | water
Access:
Accessible by appointment in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details.
Link:
https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:3602
Export:
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IIIF Manifest:
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Colin Cross, Blake revealed, William Blake : Discovery of a Masterwork , Observer, vol. 12, November 21, 1971, pp. 19-23, V 1245 Detached from Observer colour magazine [ORBIS]

John Russell, Blake the Craftsman, Art , Sunday Times, Issue no. 7749, December 12, 1971, p.27, Sunday Times Digital Archive [ORBIS]

Arnold Fawcus, Unknown Watercolours by William Blake, Illustrated London News, vol. 259, No. 6881, December 25, 1971, pp. 45-46, 49-51, Illustrated London News Historical Archive [ORBIS]


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