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>
Crucifixion
Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
actions: postures and motions
adults
arm / arms raised
astronomy
Bible: New Testament
birth to death
Crucifixion
death
figure
group
groups
moon
mourning
people
religion and belief
society
sun
paper unique graphite
The Crucifixion
support: 432 × 276 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-the-crucifixion-a00046" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00046</span></a> <b>The Crucifixion</b> <i>c</i>. 1825–7
<br/></p>
<p>A 00046 / B 798
<br/>Pencil, approx. 415×245 (16 1/4×9 3/4), on paper 432×276 (17×10 7/8)
<br/>Inscribed by Frederick Tatham ‘First design William Blake./Crucifixion - very curious shewing how he/began/Frederick Tatham’ b.r.
<br/>Presented by Mr 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, p.546 no.798, pl.1033
<br/></p>
<p>This rough <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> sketch is not related to any other known depiction of the Crucifixion by Blake. The nervous lines suggest that this is a late work. It can be related to some of the more sketchy of the illustrations to Dante such as <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-dante-in-the-empyrean-drinking-at-the-river-of-light-n03370" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N03370</span></a> and to 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/d/drawing" title="Glossary definition for 'Drawing'"><span>drawings</span></a> illustrating the Book of Enoch done at about the same time (Butlin 1981, no.827, pls.1079–83).
<br/>
<br/>Above the figure of the Crucified there is another figure with arms upraised with a very roughly sketched <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/f/form" title="Glossary definition for 'Form'"><span>form</span></a> rising from one hand, and on each side the sun and moon, shaded and, in the case of the moon, apparently dripping with blood. Some Apocalyptic interpretation of the subject is presumably involved. There are the usual mourning figures below.
<br/>
<br/>This work was formerly inventoried by the Tate Gallery as no.3694 xix.</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 astronomy Bible: New Testament birth to death Crucifixion death figure group groups moon mourning people religion and belief society sun