William Blake, 1757–1827, BritishText by Thomas Gray, 1716–1771, British
Title:
The Beginning of Poesy. The Blind Begging Bard (Design 41)
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 black ink upper right: "1"; on verso in black ink upper left: "2"; in black ink center: "The Progress of Poesy | 1. The Beginning of Poesy. The blind | begging Bard | 2. Study | 3. 'The Laughing flowers that round them blow' | Drink life & fragrance as they flow | 4. 'Perching on the Scepterd hand | Of Jove, thy magic lulls the featherd king | 5. 'Cythereas Day.' | 6. 'Hyperions march they spy & glittering shafts of war' | 7. 'Shaggy forms oer Ice built mountains roam' | 8. 'Alike they scorn the pomp of Tyrant power | And coward Vice that revels in her chains | 9. 'To him the mighty Mother did unveil | Her awful Face' | 10. 'Dryden. | 'Bright Eyd Fancy hovering oe'r' | 11. Oft before his Infant eyes would run | Such forms as glitter in the Muses ray | 12. A Muse."
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.11(21)
Classification:
Drawings & Watercolors
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
reading | stained glass | women | man | men | light | boy | boys | children | mother | infant | baby | text | window | grass | chair | hat | lyre | harp | beard | religious and mythological subject | literary theme | angel
Currently On View:
Not on view
Publications:
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 magazineArnold 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