William Blake and Sir Thomas Lawrence

William Cowper: Author of "The Task"

William Blake’s original engraving, William Cowper: Author of "The Task", is one of two portraits of the poet engraved by Blake for William Hayley's three volume set, The Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper. The first two volumes were published in 1803 and the last volume was issued a year later. In total, William Blake was commissioned for six engravings.

It is believed that Sir Thomas Lawrence created this portrait drawing around 1793. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1795. For the engraving, William Blake relied heavily upon stippled lines, probably with the assistance of a roulette. The famous stipple engraver, Francesco Bartolozzi, had engraved the same portrait three years earlier. Many contemporary figures, including William Hayley, expressed the opinion that Blake's artistic engraving was "infinitely superior to Bartolozzi's." *

Original Engraving by the British artist, William Blake designed by Sir Thomas Lawrence.

William Cowper: Author of "The Task"

View other original works of art by William Blake.

William Blake (London, 1757 - 1827)
#	Image	Title & Engraver & Designer	Medium	Date	Printer	Notes	-
01.-		Mrs. Cowper Mother of the Poet by William Blake designed by D. Heins	Original Engraving (First Edition)	1802-1803	Catherine Boucher (Mrs. Blake)	Catalogue XLIV, #2. First State of Two
02-		William Cowper by William Blake designed by George Romney	Original Engraving (First Edition)	1802-1803	Catherine Boucher (Mrs. Blake)	Catalogue XLIV, #1. First State of Two.	Sold
02-		William Cowper: Author of "The Task" by William Blake designed by Sir Thomas Lawrence	Original Engraving (First Edition)	1802-1803	Catherine Boucher (Mrs. Blake)	Catalogue XLIV, #3. First State of Two

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Title:	William Cowper: Author of "The Task"
Engraver:	Blake, William (London, 1757 - 1827)
Designer:	Lawrence, Sir Thomas (Bristol, 1769 - London, 1830)
Date:	1802 - 1803
Medium:	Original Engraving (First Edition)
Printer:	Catherine Boucher (Mrs. Blake)
Note:	William Blake: An eminent English artist and poet, William Blake entered Pars’ Drawing Academy at the age of ten. At fourteen he was apprenticed to the engraver, Ryland, and then became a pupil of James Basire, from 1771 to 1778. Basire employed Blake as his apprentice and much of his time was spent drawing London churches and, in particular, the effigies within Westminster Abbey.
	Upon completion of his apprenticeship William Blake studied briefly at the Royal Academy. During the 1780’s Blake worked mostly as a commercial engraver. In 1787 he perfected a means of engraving and printing his illustrated poems in colour. Such masterpieces as Songs of Innocence, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell and Jerusalem followed.
	During most of his career William Blake was considered an ‘eccentric’. Few saw the genius of his mystical art and writings. Poverty was thus a constant threat until 1818, when he received the sympathetic patronage of the artist, John Linnell. Linnell (1792-1882) introduced Blake to a group of younger artists which included Calvert, Varley and Samuel Palmer. Under his influence they formed themselves into the influential brotherhood known as the Ancients.
	William Blake spent his entire life in London, save for a few years (1800-1804) when he lived and worked in Felpham, Sussex. At this time he was under the often uncomfortable patronage of William Hayley (1745-1820), author of The Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper. Blake engraved the four plates (including this original portrait engraving) to accompany the first two volumes during 1802. Blake in turn engaged his wife, Catherine Boucher, to print the plates.
	Catherine was an important addition to William Blake’s life and art. It is said that when they first married, in 1782, she could neither read nor write. She soon, however, gained complete literacy and bound her husband’s books, coloured many of his illustrations and, as is here the case with this portrait of William Cowper, printed some of his engravings. It is reported that the Blake’s received about 21 Pounds for their plate-printing work from Hayley.
	Catherine was an important addition to William Blake’s life and art. It is said that when they first married, in 1782, she could neither read nor write. She soon, however, gained complete literacy and bound her husband’s books, coloured many of his illustrations and, as is here the case, printed some of his engravings. It is reported that the Blake’s received about 21 Pounds for their plate-printing work from Hayley.
	By 1805 the relationship between William Blake and William Hayley had soured. Hayley wrote that Blake “appeared to me on the verge of Insanity.” Complaining about the commissions he received from Hayley, William Blake wrote, “[Hayley] thinks to turn me into a Portrait Painter as he did Poor Romney (George Romney, 1734-1802), but this he nor all the devils in hell will never do.”
	Sir Thomas Lawrence: The son of an innkeeper, Thomas Lawrence became one of England’s greatest portrait artists of any age. As an early child he showed exceptional ability for drawing and, at the age of ten, gained a reputation for his pencil portraits of guests at his father’s inn. Such celebrities as Mrs. Siddons had their portraits drawn by this self-taught, child prodigy.
	In 1787 Thomas Lawrence moved to London. The following year (at age nineteen) his first painted portrait was accepted for the Royal Academy exhibition. Lawrence was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1791, a full Academician in 1794, and President in 1820. He was also an honorary member of the Academies of Vienna, Florence, Venice and Copenhagen. In 1825, the King of France awarded him the Cross of the Legion of Honour.
	Throughout his life, Sir Thomas Lawrence dedicated his work to the art of the portrait, in both oil and pencil. As spectacular as his paintings are, his pencil and chalk drawings hold a special place in the history of portraiture. More intimate and spontaneous, they are masterworks of expression and emotion. It is believed that Sir Thomas Lawrence created this portrait drawing of William Cowper around 1793. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1795.
	A Biographical Note: William Cowper (Hertfordshire, 1731 - East Dereham, 1800) was called to the bar in 1754, but never practiced law. In 1763 he attempted suicide and was confined for a period of two years. In 1769 Cowper moved to Huntington, near Cambridge, to lived with the family of Rev. Morley Unwin. Upon the death of Unwin, Cowper moved with the family to Olney, where he collaborated with Rev. John Newton in writing Olney Hymns (1779). His principal works include Poems (1782), The Diverting History of John Gilpin (1785), To Mary, and The Loss of the Royal George. Cowper’s last poem, The Castaway (1799) deals with his lifelong deliberation that he was forsaken by God.
	In the title, William Cowper: Author of "The Task", a specific poem is referred to. Cowper's The Task was published in 1785 in six books. Eventually incorporating many subjects, the poem owed its genesis to a friend of Cowper's (Lady Austen) who suggested that he create a work in blank verse with its primary subject being the sofa in his room. Hence it was 'the task'.
Raisonne:	Robert N. Essick, William Blake’s Commercial Book Illustrations, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1991, pp. 87 & 88. Catalogue XLIV, #3. First State of Two.
Size:	9 3/4 X 7 3/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $795.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon wove paper and with full margins as published for The Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper in 1803. Bearing the inscriptions, "T. Lawrence R. A. ad VIVUM, del. 1793", to the lower left and, "W. Blake sculp. 1802", to the lower right. This particular impression, however, lacks most of the publisher's address which should appear in the extreme lower margin. This is not because the margin has been cropped; rather the plate has not been squared exactly to the paper. The result is that one corner of the upper plate-mark has a margin of 1/2", while the other has a margin of 1/4".
	Containing some slight foxing marks else a finely printed impression (by Mrs. Blake) and in good condition throughout. William Cowper: Author of "The Task", represents a prime, original example of the important, engraved art of William Blake.
Subject;	William Blake, Sir Thomas Lawrence, William Cowper: Author of "The Task", original engraving, Mrs. Blake, printed by, first edition impression, William Hayley, Songs of Innocence, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell and Jerusalem, portraits of poets, relationship between Blake and Hayley.
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