Artwork Page for Sketch for "The Thought of Death alone, the Fear Destroys"

Details / Information for Sketch for "The Thought of Death alone, the Fear Destroys"

Sketch for "The Thought of Death alone, the Fear Destroys"

c. 1795

William Blake

(British, 1757–1827)
Culture
England, 18th century
Medium
graphite on paper
Measurements
Sheet: 17 x 30.8 cm (6 11/16 x 12 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1932.318
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

This sketch of a shepherd sleeping with his dog at the edge of a precipice relates to one of the nearly 550 watercolors that William Blake created for the 1797 edition of Edward Young’s The Complaint, and the Consolation; or, Night Thoughts, a long poem about death and salvation originally published in 1742–45. Blake worked extensively with books as an author and illustrator, and also engraved the work of others for publication. Night Thoughts was one of his most ambitious commercial projects. Unfortunately, only one of the four planned volumes was ever produced, since Richard Edwards, who had commissioned the work, closed his publishing business.
A horizontally oriented graphite drawing on light paper depicts a nude male with a light skin tone, curled into a tight ball. Facing left, his head is tucked against his knees with arms wrapped around his legs. To our right, a shaggy dog lies flat on its stomach near the man's feet. Behind them, a large, angled stone slab rises. Sparse horizontal lines define the background and ground.

Sketch for "The Thought of Death alone, the Fear Destroys"

c. 1795

William Blake

(British, 1757–1827)
England, 18th century

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