St John's vision of the Almighty on His throne, as described in the Book of Revelation, ch.4. 'And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God... The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things...'
The subject had been treated by Blake in another of the watercolours he painted for Thomas Butts (see lot 57), and it is possible that this was known to Stock since it was included in the two Blake exhibitions held at the Carfax Gallery in 1904 and 1906. It was bought by Graham Robertson from the second show, and is now in the Tate Gallery (see Martin Butlin, The Paintings and Drawings of William Blake, 1981, no.515 and pl.577)