Graphite on paper. verso: graphite on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
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<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>
Composition Possibly a Subject Dante A Man Standing over a Figure Reclining on a Bed
Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
adults
boat, sailing
figure
group
groups
people
society
transport: water
paper unique graphite
Composition Sketch, Possibly a Subject from Dante. Verso: A Man Standing over a Figure Reclining on a Bed
support: 454 × 339 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-composition-sketch-possibly-a-subject-from-dante-verso-a-man-standing-over-a-figure-a00047" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00047</span></a> <b>Composition Sketch, Possibly a Subject from Dante</b> 1824–7 (?) (recto)
<br/><b>A Man Standing over a Figure Reclining on a Bed</b>
<i>c.</i>1800–1810(?) (verso)
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<p>A 00047 / B 826
<br/>Pencil 454×339 (17 7/8×13 3/8), the verso horizontal in format, on paper watermarked ‘JWHATMAN’
<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, p.594, no.826, pls.1077 and 1078
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<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>, which appears to show two figures in a sailing boat with three further figures in the water, is similar in style 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>drawing</span></a> for ‘The Vestibule of Hell and the Souls mustering to Cross the Acheron’ in the British Museum (Butlin 1981, no.815, pl.1076). It may show another scene to do with the souls crossing the Acheron in Charon's bark or an incident on the Stygian Lake, <i>Inferno</i> Cantos VII and VIII, but it is not recognizably related to any of 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>watercolours</span></a>.
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<br/>The drawing on the verso appears to show a man threatening a figure lying on a bed. The sun appears in the top right-hand corner and there is a crescent moon low down on the left. The style suggests an earlier date than the recto, possibly <i>c.</i>1800–10.
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<br/>Rossetti lists a drawing of a similar subject then in the possession of the dealer Francis Harvey, ‘A Man approaching a recumbent Woman...Slovenly, with no point of merit save the freedom of action’ (1863, p.253 list 2 no.152, and 1880, p.272 list 2 no.181). This is otherwise untraced (see Butlin no.858) but could be this drawing, though if so 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/provenance" title="Glossary definition for 'Provenance'"><span>provenance</span></a> for the group of drawings in the Tate Gallery from the Richmond collection would have to be altered, with Harvey buying them at the Tatham sale on 29 April 1862 and George Richmond acquiring them either directly from him or later.
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<br/>This work was formerly inventoried as no.3694 xx.</p>
<p>
<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Martin Butlin, <i>William Blake 1757-1827</i>, Tate Gallery Collections, V, London 1990
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Catalogue entry
2004-09-22T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
adults boat, sailing figure group groups people society transport: water