After William Blake

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After William Blake
1757-1827
Two Grotesque Heads
Black chalk, graphite, and gray, blue, red, brown and yellow watercolor, on tracing paper mounted on card.
10 3/5 x 6 11/16 inches (264 x 170 mm)
Gift of Mr. Herman Cohen.
1980.79:20
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.

Inscription: 

Inscribed in pencil at upper right: The scarlet whore on the red dragon; across bottom: Romanism Kings War Law.

Provenance: 
Herman Cohen, Sandy Hook, Conn.
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.

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