Details
BLAKE, William -- Publius VERGILIUS Maro. [Bucolica in English] The Pastorals of Virgil, with a course of English reading, adapted for schools... by Robert John Thornton. London: J.McGowan for F.C. & J.Rivington and others, 1821.
2 volumes, 12° (170 x 98mm). Wood and steel-engraved plates and illustrations, printed with up to five plates per page, some leaves printed recto and verso, 27 BY OR AFTER WILLIAM BLAKE. (Small hole in outer margin of H7 with resultant loss of a few characters.) Later calf gilt, red and blue morocco lettering-pieces on spines, by W. Pratt. Provenance: George Goyder (armorial bookplate).
A fine copy of the third edition of Thornton's translation and the FIRST EDITION WITH PLATES BY BLAKE. Thornton was unsure about the merit of Blake's work. The other engravers envolved in the work were dismissive of his efforts and despite the support of Sir Thomas Lawrence, James Ward, Linnell and others, Thornton felt it necessary to have an 'apology' printed beneath the frontispiece to the imitation of ecologue I; 'The Illustrations of this English Pastoral are by the famous Blake... who designed and engraved them himself. This is mentioned, as they display less of art than genius, and are much admired by some eminent painters.' Bentley 504. (2)
2 volumes, 12° (170 x 98mm). Wood and steel-engraved plates and illustrations, printed with up to five plates per page, some leaves printed recto and verso, 27 BY OR AFTER WILLIAM BLAKE. (Small hole in outer margin of H7 with resultant loss of a few characters.) Later calf gilt, red and blue morocco lettering-pieces on spines, by W. Pratt. Provenance: George Goyder (armorial bookplate).
A fine copy of the third edition of Thornton's translation and the FIRST EDITION WITH PLATES BY BLAKE. Thornton was unsure about the merit of Blake's work. The other engravers envolved in the work were dismissive of his efforts and despite the support of Sir Thomas Lawrence, James Ward, Linnell and others, Thornton felt it necessary to have an 'apology' printed beneath the frontispiece to the imitation of ecologue I; 'The Illustrations of this English Pastoral are by the famous Blake... who designed and engraved them himself. This is mentioned, as they display less of art than genius, and are much admired by some eminent painters.' Bentley 504. (2)