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THE PROPERTY OF ALEXANDER VERSHBOW
BLAKE, William, illustrator -- VIRGIL, Publius Maro. The Pastorals of Virgil, with a course of English reading, adapted for schools ... by Robert John Thornton. London: J. McGowan for F.C. Rivington and others, 1821.
Details
BLAKE, William, illustrator -- VIRGIL, Publius Maro. The Pastorals of Virgil, with a course of English reading, adapted for schools ... by Robert John Thornton. London: J. McGowan for F.C. Rivington and others, 1821.
2 volumes, 12o (173 x 102 mm). Wood and steel-engraved plates and illustrations, printed with up to five plates to a page, some leaves printed recto and verso, 27 (on thirteen leaves) by or after William Blake, 3 engraved maps, 2 folding. (Some occasional minor spotting.) 19th-century polished calf gilt (joints lightly rubbed). Provenance: S.K. Blake (signature on flyleaf); Frances Hofer (bookplate); acquired from Philip Hofer, 1959.
A fine copy of the third edition of Thornton's translation and the FIRST EDITION WITH PLATES BY BLAKE. Following criticisms of Blake's work, and despite the praise of Sir Thomas Lawrence, James Ward, Linnell and others, Thornton included the following explanation beneath the frontispiece to the imitation of Eclogue I: "The illustrations of this English Pastoral are by the famous Blake, the illustrator of Young's Night Thoughts and Blair's Grave; 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; Keynes 77.
2 volumes, 12o (173 x 102 mm). Wood and steel-engraved plates and illustrations, printed with up to five plates to a page, some leaves printed recto and verso, 27 (on thirteen leaves) by or after William Blake, 3 engraved maps, 2 folding. (Some occasional minor spotting.) 19th-century polished calf gilt (joints lightly rubbed). Provenance: S.K. Blake (signature on flyleaf); Frances Hofer (bookplate); acquired from Philip Hofer, 1959.
A fine copy of the third edition of Thornton's translation and the FIRST EDITION WITH PLATES BY BLAKE. Following criticisms of Blake's work, and despite the praise of Sir Thomas Lawrence, James Ward, Linnell and others, Thornton included the following explanation beneath the frontispiece to the imitation of Eclogue I: "The illustrations of this English Pastoral are by the famous Blake, the illustrator of Young's Night Thoughts and Blair's Grave; 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; Keynes 77.