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Lot Essay
The present work depicts a figure of a woman sitting at her dressing table, looking to her right towards the bed, clearly startled by something. Rays of light appear to emanate from the bed, possibly representing death and the soul departing to Heaven. Blake explored the subject of illness and death in a small group of drawings, circa 1780-85, of which the present sheet is one. His interest in man's mortality was perhaps a natural development from his religious sensibilities.
The exploration of religion and death was popular in late 18th and early 19th century Britain. As early as 1743, Robert Blair had published his celebrated, monumental poem The Grave, exploring the subject of death. Its enormous popularity influenced what became known as the Graveyard School of Poetry. In October 1805, Blake was commissioned by Robert Cromek to prepare forty drawings, from which Cromek would chose twenty, to serve as illustrations for a new illustrated edition of the poem. The present drawing obviously pre-dates this scheme but Martin Butlin has surmised that there was an unrecorded scheme to illustrate this text much earlier.
The exploration of religion and death was popular in late 18th and early 19th century Britain. As early as 1743, Robert Blair had published his celebrated, monumental poem The Grave, exploring the subject of death. Its enormous popularity influenced what became known as the Graveyard School of Poetry. In October 1805, Blake was commissioned by Robert Cromek to prepare forty drawings, from which Cromek would chose twenty, to serve as illustrations for a new illustrated edition of the poem. The present drawing obviously pre-dates this scheme but Martin Butlin has surmised that there was an unrecorded scheme to illustrate this text much earlier.