Yale Center for British Art

Creator:
William Blake, 1757–1827, British
Title:
Copy of the Laocoön, for Rees's Cyclopædia
Date:
1815
Materials & Techniques:
Graphite on medium, slightly textured, beige laid paper
Dimensions:
Sheet: 12 5/8 × 9 inches (32.1 × 22.9 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Inscribed in graphite lower center: "This drawing was made by W. Blake in the Royal | Academy Somerset House for a small plate he made of the | Laocoon for the Article in the Encyclopedia. The article itself was | on sculpture being written by Flaxman. When W. B was drawing | this his old friend Fuseli came in & said ' Why Mr. Blake you a student you | ought to teach us' in my possession from Mrs Blake F. Tatham"; inscribed on back in graphite upper right: "2 | 210"; in graphite upper right: "230.17"; in graphite lower right: "[...]"
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1985.14
Classification:
Drawings & Watercolors
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
strangling | twins | Laocoon and his twin sons are strangled by two serpents during the preparations for a sacrifice | religious and mythological subject | beard | snakes | men | sons | boys | father | hero | Greek | Classical | sculpture | Grand Tour | legend
Currently On View:
Not on view
Exhibition History:
The Human Form Divine - William Blake from the Paul Mellon Collection (Yale Center for British Art, 1997-04-02 - 1997-07-06)
Link:
https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:7237