Oil paint on oak
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/thomas-stothard-531" aria-label="More by Thomas Stothard" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Thomas Stothard</a>
Pilgrimage to Canterbury
Purchased 1884
adults
animals: mammals
Chaucer, Geoffrey, ‘Canterbury Tales’ - non-specific
England
England, South East
England, Southern
friar / monk
group
groups
hill
horse
Kent
landscape
literature (not Shakespeare)
literature and fiction
man
nun
people
pilgrimage
places
procession
religion and belief
religious
riding
society
transport: land
UK counties
UK countries and regions
universal religious imagery
woman
wooded
work and occupations
<p>The engraver and publisher Robert Cromek commissioned this painting from Blake’s friend Stothard. Cromek put it on display and charged visitors a shilling to see it. He also collected subscriptions for the forthcoming print of the painting.</p><p>Blake claimed that Cromek had commissioned a painting of the Canterbury Pilgrims from him first, but Cromek had not liked the design and so took the commission to Stothard. Blake accused Cromek and, through him, Stothard of copying his long, frieze-like composition. It is unlikely that Blake’s accusations were well-founded, but the dispute effectively ended Blake and Stothard's friendship.</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint oak
24 March 2003 – 17 November 2003
2003-11-17
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2003-03-24
Blake and Illustration
Collection based display
20 April 2009 – 4 October 2009
2009-10-04
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2009-04-20
William Blake: The 1809 Exhibition
Collection based display
The Pilgrimage to Canterbury
support: 318 × 952 mm
Purchased 1884
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    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/e/engraving" title="Glossary definition for 'Engraving'"><span>engraver</span></a> and publisher Robert Cromek commissioned      this <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/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a> from Blake’s  friend      Stothard. Cromek put it on display and charged      visitors a shilling to see it. He also collected subscriptions for the      forthcoming <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/print" title="Glossary definition for 'Print'"><span>print</span></a> of the painting.  
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<div>
    Blake claimed that Cromek had commissioned a painting of the Canterbury Pilgrims from  him first, but Cromek had not liked the design and so took      the commission to Stothard. Blake accused      Cromek and, through him, Stothard  of copying his long, frieze-like      <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/composition" title="Glossary definition for 'Composition'"><span>composition</span></a>.  It is unlikely that Blake’s accusations were  well-founded, but the dispute effectively ended Blake and Stothard's      friendship.  </div>

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2004-09-08T00:00:00
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adults animals: mammals Chaucer, Geoffrey, ‘Canterbury Tales’ - non-specific England England, South East England, Southern friar / monk group groups hill horse Kent landscape literature and fiction literature (not Shakespeare) man nun people pilgrimage places procession religion and belief religious riding society transport: land UK counties UK countries and regions universal religious imagery woman wooded work and occupations