'Job and his Family', William Blake

Artwork details

Artist

William Blake (1757‑1827)

Title

Job and his Family

From Illustrations to 'The Book of Job'

Date 1828, reprinted 1874

MediumLine engraving on paper

Dimensionsimage: 184 x 150 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Purchased with the assistance of a special grant from the National Gallery and donations from the Art Fund, Lord Duveen and others, and presented through the the Art Fund 1919

Reference

A00012

On display at Tate Britain

Theme: BP Spotlights

Room: Landscape in Blake

Display caption

This illustrates verses 1-3 of chapter 1 of the Old Testament Book of Job. Job is prosperous and pious. However, he is guided by the books of the Law which lie open before him. The instruments which should be used for praising the Lord hang silent above him. Satan tells the Lord that Job's piety stems from his material prosperity. Satan is allowed to test Job by destroying this prosperity. Job's subsequent trials which make him recognize his error of being pious only according to the law, are depicted in Blake's set of Job engravings. Blake's interest in depicting Job's trials is paralleled by his later exploration of Dante's experiences in the illustrations to the Divine Comedy… (read more)

August 2004