Graphite on paper. verso: graphite on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/william-blake-39" aria-label="More by William Blake" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">William Blake</a>
Four and Twenty Elders Casting their Crowns before Divine Throne Standing Figure with Arms at his Side
Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
actions: postures and motions
adults
angel
Apocalypse
Bible: New Testament
cherub
figure
four and twenty elders
God
group
groups
Judaeo-Christian imagery
kneeling
Last Judgement
objects
people
religion and belief
religious and ceremonial
Revelation, chapter 4
throne
universal religious imagery
worship
<p>This is a sketch for the finished watercolour. Despite the looseness of Blake’s pencil marks, he retains a symmetrical composition. This balance of sketchiness and symmetry is maintained in the finished piece.</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
paper unique graphite
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
Sketch for ‘The Four and Twenty Elders Casting their Crowns before the Divine Throne’. Verso: Standing Figure with Arms at his Side
support: 488 × 389 mm
Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
<div>
    This is a sketch for the finished <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/w/watercolour" title="Glossary definition for 'Watercolour'"><span>watercolour</span></a>. Despite the looseness of      Blake’s <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/g/graphite" title="Glossary definition for 'Graphite'"><span>pencil</span></a> marks, he retains a symmetrical      <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>. This balance of sketchiness and      symmetry is maintained in the finished piece.   </div>

Display caption
2004-09-08T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<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-sketch-for-the-four-and-twenty-elders-casting-their-crowns-before-the-divine-throne-a00033" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00033</span></a> <b>Sketch for ‘The Four and Twenty Elders casting their Crowns before the Divine Throne’</b> <i>c</i>. 1803 (recto) <b>Standing Figure with Arms at his Side</b> <i>c</i>. 1805–10(?) (verso)
<br/></p>
<p>A 00033 / B 516
<br/>Pencil 488×389 (19 1/4×15 5/16); the drawing on the verso is upside down
<br/>Inscribed on recto by Frederick Tatham ‘William Blake - First design. sketch, Frederick Tatham’ b.r.
<br/>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 no.2) £2.10.0 bt Dr Richard Sisley; his daughter Mrs John Richmond
<br/>LITERATURE Butlin 1981, pp.367–8 no.516, pls.612 and 614
<br/></p>
<p>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 a sketch for <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-the-four-and-twenty-elders-casting-their-crowns-before-the-divine-throne-n05897" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N05897</span></a>. The verso could be for some such subject as a ‘Raising of Lazarus’, though it is nothing like the figure in 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/w/watercolour" title="Glossary definition for 'Watercolour'"><span>watercolour</span></a> painted for Thomas Butts (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-the-raising-of-lazarus-n05199" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N05199</span></a>). It is similar in character to the versi of <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-preliminary-sketch-for-christ-girding-himself-with-strength-verso-standing-figure-a00043" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00043</span></a>, <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-composition-sketch-for-the-fall-of-the-rebel-angels-verso-standing-figure-with-a00049" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00049</span></a> and <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-composition-sketch-verso-standing-figure-holding-a-spear-a00048" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00048</span></a>.
<br/>
<br/>This work was formerly inventoried as no.3694 i.</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 angel Apocalypse Bible: New Testament cherub figure four and twenty elders God group groups Judaeo-Christian imagery kneeling Last Judgement objects people religion and belief religious and ceremonial Revelation, chapter 4 throne universal religious imagery worship