'The Shepherd', George Richmond

Artwork details

Artist

George Richmond (1809‑1896)

Title

The Shepherd

Date 1827

MediumLine engraving on paper

Dimensionsimage: 178 x 114 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1925

Reference

N04064

On display at Tate Britain

Theme: BP Spotlights

Room: Landscape in Blake

Display caption

This unfinished engraving is a good example of the strong influence which Blake's illustrations to Thornton's 'Virgil', shown in this display, had on the Ancients. The shepherd and his flock are clearly based on Thenot and his sheep in the Frontispiece to Thornton. The motif of the small cottage set among trees also appears in some of the other Thornton wood-engravings. Richmond began this print in April 1827 and he seems to have continued work on it at Shoreham, Kent, soon afterwards. The landscape in 'The Shepherd', like Palmer's landscapes of the same period, was inspired by the views around Shoreham.

September 2004