'Then the Lord answered Job out of the Whirlwind' [Plate 13 from 'Illustrations of the Book of Job']
London, William Blake [for John Linnell], 'Published as the Act directs March 8: 1825' [in fact 1826].
An original engraving (printed surface 195 × 148 mm plus the credits, paper size 377 × 271 mm), matted with archival board and behind glass in a simple but apposite polished wooden frame (visible image size 237 × 187 mm, external dimensions 540 × 448 mm).
Paper lightly cockled, with a tiny closed tear to the bottom margin of the sheet (well clear of the printed surface); essentially in fine condition.
'William Blake's "Illustrations of the Book of Job" primarily refers to a series of twenty-two engraved prints (published 1826) by Blake illustrating the biblical Book of Job. It also refers to two earlier sets of watercolours by Blake on the same subject (1806 and 1821). The engraved "Illustrations" are considered to be Blake's greatest masterpieces in the medium of engraving, and were also a rare commercial and critical success for Blake' (Wikipedia). Plate 13 quotes Job 38:1-2 and 28 ('Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind / Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge ... Hath the Rain a Father & Who hath begotten the Drops of the Dew'), and Psalms 104:3 ('Who maketh the Clouds his Chariot & walketh on the Wings of the Wind'). The Blake authority, G.E. Bentley Jr ('Blake Books. Annotated Catalogues of William Blake's Writings in Illuminated Printing ...', Clarendon Press, 1977) records that 'According to Linnell's "Job" accounts, 150 "Proof" sets on India paper (watermarked J WHATMAN TURKEY MILL 1825) and 65 on French paper (watermarked J WHATMAN 1825) were printed by Lahee in March 1826. Then the word "Proof" was removed from the plates (though it is still faintly visible on the copperplates and in some pulls), and 100 sets were printed on drawing paper'. The example we have for sale is one of the latter group, printed after the word 'Proof' was removed from the original copperplate.
Item #122290
Price (AUD):
$6,500.00