After William Blake
1757-1827
Two Grotesque Heads
10 3/5 x 6 11/16 inches (264 x 170 mm)
Black chalk, graphite, and gray, blue, red, brown and yellow watercolor, on tracing paper mounted on card.
1980.79:20
Gift of Mr. Herman Cohen.
Notes
Copy on tracing paper by an unknown copyist of two figures from William Blake's drawing to illustrate the general t.p. of Night VIII of Edward Young's Night thoughts; the original drawing now in the collection of the British Museum.
Inscriptions/Markings
Inscribed in pencil at upper right: The scarlet whore on the red dragon; across bottom: Romanism Kings War Law.
Summary
Two grotesque heads evidently intended to represent the faces of "Romanism" and "War"; the one at left crowned with a papal tiara and the other, and the other at right wearing a stylized helmet.
Associated names
Cohen, Herman, former owner.
Young, Edward, 1683-1765. Night thoughts.
Young, Edward, 1683-1765. Night thoughts.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department