William Blake, 1757–1827, BritishText by Thomas Gray, 1716–1771, British
Title:
"Midst the tide, Two angel forms were seen to glide..." (Design 7)
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: "1"; on verso in black ink upper left: "2"; in gray ink center: "Ode on the Death of | a Favourite Cat | Design. | 1. 'Midst the tide | Two Angel forms were seen to glide' | 2. 'Demurest of the Tabby Kind.' | 3 'The pensive Selima | Her Ears of Jet & Emrald Eyes | She saw & purr'd applause' | 4. 'Still had she gazd but midst the tide | Two angel forms were seen to glide | The hapless nymph with wonder saw | A Whisker first & then a Claw &c ' | 5. Malignant Fate sat by & smild | The slippery verge her feet beguild | She tumbled headlong in' | 6. 'Nine times emerging from the flood | 'She mew'd to every watry God' "
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.11(4)
Classification:
Drawings & Watercolors
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
water | scales | text | corset | religious and mythological subject | literary theme | fish | cat (domestic cat)
Currently On View:
Not on view
Exhibition History:
William Blake (Tate Britain, 2000-11-02 - 2001-02-04)The Human Form Divine - William Blake from the Paul Mellon Collection (Yale Center for British Art, 1997-04-02 - 1997-07-06)
Publications:
Colin Cross, Blake revealed, William Blake : Discovery of a Masterwork , Observer, vol. 12, November 21, 1971, pp. 19-23, 25, V 1245 Detached from Observer colour magazineAndrew Loukes, William Blake in Sussex: Visions of Albion, Petworth House, London, p. 13, fig. 4, NJ18.B57 A12 2018 (LC) (YCBA)John Russell, Blake the Craftsman, Art , Sunday Times, Issue no. 7749, December 12, 1971, p. 27, Sunday Times Digital ArchiveArnold 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 ArchiveArnold Fawcus, William Blake's Watercolour Designs Illustrating Gray's Poems - and Mr. Paul Mellon, Connoisseur, vol. 179,no. 719, January 1972, pp. 11, 12, unnum color pl, N1 C75 + (YCBA) Another copy inckuded in Vertical File Collection : V 2335