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>
Preaching Warning An Old Man Enthroned Between Two Groups Figures by William Blake
Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
actions: postures and motions
adults
arm / arms raised
group
groups
man
people
preaching
religious
standing
work and occupations
<p>Blake’s younger brother Robert also aspired to be an artist, and probably attended the Royal Academy schools as well. Very few of his drawings are known. However, this design suggests a similar interest in big gestures and simplified compositions.</p><p><em>Gallery label, October 2019</em></p>
paper unique 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
20 April 2015 – 7 May 2017
2017-05-07
20 April 2015 – 7 May 2017
2017-05-07
2015-04-20
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2015-04-20
William Blake
Collection based display
11 September 2019 – 2 February 2020
2020-02-02
11 September 2019 – 2 February 2020
2020-02-02
2019-09-11
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2019-09-11
William Blake: The Artist
Exhibition
29 October 2024 – 30 September 2025
2025-09-30
30 October 2024 – 2 February 2025
2025-02-02
2024-10-30
Reggia di Venaria Reale (Turin, Italy)
1 September 2025 – 31 January 2026
2026-01-31
2025-09-01
Museum of Fine Arts (Budapest, Hungary)
1 March 2026 – 31 August 2026
2026-08-31
2026-03-01
External
2024-10-29
William Blake and the Age of Romantic Fantasy: British Art & Imagination
Loan-out
The Preaching of Warning. Verso: An Old Man Enthroned Between Two Groups of Figures, by ?William Blake
support: 343 × 467 mm
Presented by Mrs John Richmond 1922
<div class="text">
<p>Blake’s younger brother Robert also aspired to be an artist, and probably attended the Royal Academy schools as well. Very few of his drawings are known. However, this design suggests a similar interest in big gestures and simplified compositions.</p>
</div>

Display caption
2019-10-04T00:00:00
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-the-preaching-of-warning-verso-an-old-man-enthroned-between-two-groups-of-figures-by-a00003" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00003</span></a> <b>The Preaching of Warning</b> (recto)
<br/>Possibly by William Blake: <b>An Old Man Enthroned between Two Groups of Figures</b> (verso)
<br/></p>
<p>A 00003 / B R6
<br/>Pencil 342×466 (13 5/16×18 3/4)
<br/>Inscribed on recto by Frederick Tatham ‘These sublime lines by William Blake - The preaching of warning - vouched by Fred<sup>k</sup>. 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, p.622 no.R6, pls.1179 and 1180
<br/></p>
<p>Despite Tatham's attribution to William Blake, Sir Geoffrey Keynes suggested that 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> might be by Robert in a letter of 23 October 1926. 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 apparent subject to the ‘Druid Grove’ in the Keynes collection (Butlin 1981, no.R4, colour pl.176).
<br/>
<br/>The drawing on the verso seems to depict a ruler enthroned with two seated counsellors on the left while four other figures converse in a huddle on the right. The style of the right-hand group of figures is much more relaxed than in most works thought to be by Robert, though those on the left are close to <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-two-drawings-of-frightened-figures-probably-for-the-approach-of-doom-a00002" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00002</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-six-drawings-of-figures-with-outstretched-arms-a00004" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>A00004</span></a>.
<br/>
<br/>This work was formerly inventoried by the Tate Gallery as no.3694 x.</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 group groups man people preaching religious standing work and occupations