- Title:
- "Malignant Fate sat by, and smil'd, The slipp'ry verge her feet beguil'd..." (Design 11)
- Additional Title(s):
Verso: "Eight times emerging from the flood, She mew'd to ev'ry wat'ry God..." (Design 12)
Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat- Part Of:
- Date:
- between 1797 and 1798
- Materials & Techniques:
- Watercolor with pen and black ink and graphite on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream wove paper with inlaid letterpress page
- Dimensions:
- Sheet: 16 1/2 x 12 3/4 inches (41.9 x 32.4 cm)
- Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Inscribed in gray ink upper right: "5"; in graphite upper center: "+ | +"; on verso in gray ink upper left: "6"
Lettered on inlaid page: "OF A FAVORITE CAT. 51 | Presumptuous maid! with looks intent | Again she stretch'd, again she bent, | Nor knew the gulph between: | (Malignant Fate sat by, and smil'd) | The slipp'ry verge her feet beguil'd, | She tumbled headlong in. | Eight times emerging from the flood | She mew'd to ev'ry wat'ry God, | Some speedy aid to send. | No Dolphin came, no Nereid stirr'd. | Nor cruel Tom, nor Susan heard, | A fav'rite has no friend! | From hence, ye beauties, undeceiv'd, | Know, one false step is ne'er retriev'd, | And be with caution bold. | Not"; Lettered on verso, on inlaid page: "52 ODE, &c. | Nor all that tempts your wand'ring eyes, | And heedless hearts, is lawful prize; | Nor all that glisters, gold. | ODE"
- Credit Line:
- Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
- Copyright Status:
- Public Domain
- Accession Number:
- B1992.8.11(6)
- Classification:
- Drawings & Watercolors
- Collection:
- Prints and Drawings
- Subject Terms:
- fish | fish hooks | harpoons | literary theme | religious and mythological subject | shield | spear | text | women
- Access:
- Accessible by appointment in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details. - Link:
- https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:3590
- Export:
- XML
- IIIF Manifest:
- JSON
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]
William Blake - His Art & Times (Art Gallery of Ontario, 1982-12-03 - 1983-02-06) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition]
William Blake - His Art & Times (Yale Center for British Art, 1982-09-15 - 1982-11-14) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition]
Colin Cross, Blake revealed, William Blake : Discovery of a Masterwork , Observer, vol. 12, November 21, 1971, pp. 19-23, V 1245 Detached from Observer colour magazine [ORBIS]
John Russell, Blake the Craftsman, Art , Sunday Times, Issue no. 7749, December 12, 1971, p.27, Sunday Times Digital Archive [ORBIS]
Arnold Fawcus, Unknown Watercolours by William Blake, Illustrated London News, vol. 259, No. 6881, December 25, 1971, pp. 45-46, 49-51, Illustrated London News Historical Archive [ORBIS]
Arnold Fawcus, William Blake's Watercolour Designs Illustrating Gray's Poems - and Mr. Paul Mellon, Connoisseur, vol. 179,no. 719, January 1972, p. 14, fig. 5, N1 C75 + (YCBA) Another copy inckuded in Vertical File Collection : V 2335 [YCBA]