Watercolour, ink, chalk and graphite on paper. verso: graphite on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/robert-blake-38" aria-label="More by Robert Blake" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Robert Blake</a>
A Figure Bowing before a Seated Old Man with his Arm Outstretched in Benediction Indecipherable
Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
actions: postures and motions
adults
arm / arms raised
blessing
kneeling
man
man, old
people
religion and belief
sitting
universal religious imagery
paper unique watercolour ink chalk graphite
6 December 2004 – 15 August 2005
2005-08-15
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2004-12-06
Blake and Jerusalem
Collection based display
A Figure Bowing before a Seated Old Man with his Arm Outstretched in Benediction. Verso: Indecipherable Sketch
support: 394 × 419 mm
Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
<p><a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-a-figure-bowing-before-a-seated-old-man-with-his-arm-outstretched-in-benediction-a00001" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00001</span></a> <b>A Figure Bowing Before a Seated Old Man with his Arm Outstretched in    Benediction</b> (recto)
<br/><b>Indecipherable Sketch</b> (verso)
<br/></p>
<p><span>A00001</span> / B R9
<br/>Recto: pen, wash, black chalk and pencil; Verso: pencil; on paper 393×422 (15 7/8×16 15/16); the paper has been cut irregularly at the left, narrowing to 220 (8 3/4) and, before starting the drawing, the artist added 90 (3 1/4) at the right Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
<br/>PROVENANCE Mrs Blake; Frederick Tatham; his brother-in-law George Richmond, sold Christie's 29 April 1897 (in 147 with 22 other items; see <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-st-christopher-copy-from-an-engraving-verso-part-of-a-face-copy-from-a-plaster-cast-a00045" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00045</span></a>) £2.10.0.bt Dr Richard Sisley; his daughter Mrs John Richmond
<br/>LITERATURE Butlin 1981, p.623 no.R9, pls.1189 and 1190
<br/></p>
<p>The attribution to Robert Blake was made by Sir Geofrey Keynes in a letter of 23 October 1926. The fragment on the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/r/recto-verso" title="Glossary definition for 'Recto / Verso'"><span>recto</span></a> is close in style and general arrangement to ‘A Druid Ceremony’ in the Keynes collection (Butlin 1981, no.R3, pl.1182). The <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/paper" title="Glossary definition for 'Paper'"><span>paper</span></a> has been cut roughly to follow the back of the stooping figure on the left, then diagonally up towards the upper edge; there was originally at least one standing figure behind the stooping one.
<br/>
<br/>This work was formerly inventoried by the Tate Gallery as no.3694 ii.</p>
<p>
<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Martin Butlin, <i>William Blake 1757-1827</i>, Tate Gallery Collections, V, London 1990
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-09-22T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: postures and motions adults arm / arms raised blessing kneeling man man, old people religion and belief sitting universal religious imagery