William Blake | Illustrations of the Book of Job, [1826], one of 150 sets of proof impressions on India paper

William Blake

Illustrations of the Book of Job. Invented & Engraved by William Blake. London: published by the author, March 8 1825 [but 1826]

ONE OF 150 SETS OF PROOF IMPRESSIONS ON INDIA PAPER, folio (406 x 316 mm), engraved pictorial title-page and 21 plates designed and engraved by William Blake, each sheet interleaved, late nineteenth-century brown straight-grained morocco gilt by Riviere, spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges, marbled endpapers, inner dentelles, paper blemish in plate 18 not affecting image, minor marks to upper cover

Bentley notes that 150 "Proof" sets on India paper (watermarked "J WHATMAN TURKEY MILL 1825") and 65 on French paper (watermarked "J WHATMAN 1825") were printed in March 1826. The word "Proof" was then removed from the plates and 100 sets were printed on drawing paper. "Illustrations of the Book of Job was Blake's last completed prophetic book... it was planned without text, although the margins of the engravings are filled with important Biblical quotations... the Illustrations are Blake's most lucid; and they are the supreme example of his reading the Bible in its spiritual sense" (S. Foster Damon, A Blake Dictionary, 1973).

PROVENANCE:

Robert Griffin of Court Garden, Marlow, Bucks (c.1840–1921), thence by descent; sale in these rooms, 17 December 2009, lot 73