The Pastorals of Virgil: Four Plates

In 1820 Blake was commissioned by Dr. Thornton, presumably through an introduction by John Linnell, to provide a number of illustrations engraved on both copper and on wood for the third edition (1821) of his educational work on The Pastorals of Virgil. Blake used a new method of wood engraving, cutting with the grain rather than against it, which allowed for more expressive lines, however, the blocks that Blake submitted were derided by the other illustrators participating in the project and it was only through the intervention of artists such as Linnell, Thomas Lawrence, James Ward and others that Thornton was persuaded to accept Blake's illustrations. However, without reference to Blake, the blocks were substantially if not brutally reduced to fit the book. The present example, one of an exceptionally small number of sheets printed from the block before it was divided into its four elements, was originally owned by his close friend Linell, and was presumably a gift from the older artist, perhaps in gratitude for Linnell's support.