William Blake (1757-1827) is regarded today as one of England's major artists and poets, but in his own time he was known principally as a professional engraver. The book illustrations he executed after designs by other artists form a significant part of his graphic productions. These prints are described and reproduced in this catalogue providing information on states, preliminary drawings and the relationships between Blake's prints and the texts they accompany. The 295 illustrations include Blake's copy prints published in books and a selection of the preliminary drawings from which he worked. Blake's apprentice engravings and the prints falsely attributed to him are treated in appendices. The introductory essay explores how Blake's work as a copy engraver provided the cultural and commercial matrix shaping his original designs and writing and how a study of reproductive graphics contributes to our understanding of an artist and his society.
- ISBN10 0198173903
- ISBN13 9780198173908
- Publish Date 1 July 1991
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 13 January 1994
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Oxford University Press
- Imprint Clarendon Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 155
- Language English