Robert Blake

Two Drawings of Frightened Figures, Probably for ‘The Approach of Doom’

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

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Artist
Robert Blake 1762–1787
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Support: 311 × 213 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
Reference
A00002

Catalogue entry

A00002 Two Groups of Frightened Figures, Probably for ‘The Approach of Doom’

A 00002 / B R7
Pencil, each approx. 95×55 (3 5/8×2 1/4), on paper, cut irregularly, 311×212 (12 1/4×8 5/16); the paper has been folded horizontally between the two drawings
Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
PROVENANCE Mrs Blake; Frederick Tatham; his brother-in-law George Richmond, sold Christie's 29 April 1897 (in 147 with 22 other items; A00045) £2.10.0 bt Dr Richard Sisley; his daughter Mrs John Richmond
LITERATURE Butlin 1981, pp.622–3 no.R7, pl.1178

Two drawings of a group of three frightened figures. In the lower drawing the position of the head of the left-hand figure has been altered or an additional head added to enlarge the group to four.

A similar group, though more extended, appears in the more finished pen and wash drawing known as ‘The Approach of Doom’ (Butlin 1981, no.R2, pl.1181). The Tate's drawing is presumably the first stage in the evolution of the composition.

This work was formerly inventoried by the Tate Gallery as no.3694 ix.


Published in:
Martin Butlin, William Blake 1757-1827, Tate Gallery Collections, V, London 1990

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