William Blake, 1757–1827, BritishText by Thomas Gray, 1716–1771, British
Title:
The Serpent who Girds the Earth (Design 77)
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 Descent of Odin | 1. The Serpent who girds the Earth | 2. Spectres | 3. 'Him the Dog of Darkness spied' | 4. 'Right against the eastern gate | By the mossgrown Pile he sat' | 5. The Prophetess Rising from her Grave | 6. 'Tis the drink of Balder bold' | 7. 'A wondrous boy shall Rinda bear | Who neer shall comb his raven hair | Nor wash his visage in the stream | Till he on Hoders corse shall smile' | 8. 'Ha! No traveller art thou | King of Men I know thee Now' | 9. 'Hie thee hence' | 10. The Serpent & the Wolvish Dog. two | terrors in the Northern Mythology"
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.11(39)
Classification:
Drawings & Watercolors
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
water | woman | stars | sea | text | nudes | religious and mythological subject | literary theme | mythological figures | serpent | snake | wings | sun | moon | dragon
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