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Creator:
Print made by William Blake, 1757–1827
Title:
"Albion cold lays on his Rock..." (Plate 94)
Part Of:

Collective Title: Jerusalem: The Emanation of The Giant Albion, Copy E

Date:
1804 to 1820
Materials & Techniques:
Relief etching printed in orange ink, with watercolor and pen and black ink on moderately thick, smooth, cream wove paper
Dimensions:
Sheet: 13 1/2 x 10 3/8 inches (34.3 x 26.4 cm), Plate: 8 3/8 x 6 inches (21.2 x 15.2 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:

Inscribed in orange ink, upper right: "94"

Lettered inside image: "Albion cold lays on his Rock: storms & snows beat round him, | Beneath the Furnaces & the starry Wheels & the Immortal Tomb. | Howling winds cover him: roaring seas dash furious against him: | In the deep darkness broad lightnings glare, long thunders roll. | The weeds of Death inwrap his hands & feet, blown incessant | And wash'd incessant by the for-ever restless sea-waves, foaming abroad | Upon the white Rock. England, a Female Shadow, as deadly damps | Of the Mines of Cornwall & Derbyshire lays upon his bosom heavy, | Moved by the wind in volumes of thick cloud, returning, folding round | His loins & bosom, unremovable by swelling storms & loud rending | Of enraged thunders. Around them the Starry Wheels of their Giant Sons | Revolve: & over them the Furnaces of Los & the Immortal Tomb around: | Erin sitting in the Tomb, to watch them unceasing night and day: | And the Body of Albion was closed apart from all Nations. | Over them the famish'd Eagle screams on boney Wings, and around | Them howls the Wolf of famine, deep heaves the Ocean black, thundering | Around the wormy Garments of Albion: then pausing in deathlike silence. | Time was Finished! The Breath Divine Breathed over Albion | Beneath the Furnaces & starry Wheels and in the Immortal Tomb, | And England who is Brittannia awoke from Death on Albion's bosom: | She awoke pale & cold, she fainted seven times on the Body of Albion. | O piteous Sleep, O piteous Dream! O God, O God, awake! I have slain, | In Dreams of Chastity & Moral Law I have Murdered Albion! Ah! | In Stone-henge & on London Stone & in the Oak Groves of Maiden | I have Slain him in my Sleep, with the Knife of the Druid. O England, | O all ye Nations of the Earth behold ye the Jealous Wife! | The Eagle & the Wolf & Monkey & Owl & the King & Priest were there!"

Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.1(94)
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
arch | dead | death | hill | literary theme | men | mourning | religious and mythological subject | roots | sinews | stone | sun | text | women
Access:
Accessible in the Study Room [Request]
Link:
https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:3530
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William Blake (Tate Britain, 2000-11-02 - 2001-02-04) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition]

The Human Form Divine - William Blake from the Paul Mellon Collection (Yale Center for British Art, 1997-04-02 - 1997-07-06) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition] [Exhibition Description]


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