- Title:
- The Prophetess Rising from Her Grave (Design 81)
- Additional Title(s):
Verso: "'Tis the drink of Balder bold..." (Design 82)
The Descent of Odin- 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 black ink upper right: "5"; in graphite upper center: "x"; on verso in black ink upper left: "6"; in graphite center: "x"
Lettered on inlaid page: "AN ODE. 121 | PROPHETESS. | What call unknown, what charms, presume | To break the quiet of the tomb? | Who thus afflicts my troubled sprite, | And drags me from the realms of night? | Long on these mould'ring bones have beat | The winter's snow, the summer's heat, | The drenching dews, and driving rain! | Let me, let me sleep again. | Who is he, with voice unblest, | That calls me from the bed of rest? | ODIN. | A Traveller to thee unknown, | Is he that calls, a warrior's son. | Thou the deeds of light shalt know; | Tell me what is done below, | For whom yon glitt'ring board is spread, | Drest for whom yon golden bed. | PRO-"; Lettered on verso, on inlaid page: "122 THE DESCENT OF ODIN. | PROPHETESS. | Mantling in the goblet see | The pure bev'rage of the bee; | O'er it hangs the shield of gold: | 'Tis the drink of Balder bold. | Balder's head to death is giv'n. | Pain can reach the Sons of Heav'n! | Unwilling I my lips unclose: | Leave me, leave me to repose. | ODIN. | Once again my call obey. | Prophetess, arise, and say, | What dangers Odin's child await, | Who the author of his fate. | PROPHETESS. | In Hoder's hand the hero's doom; | His brother sends him to the tomb. | Now"
- Credit Line:
- Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
- Copyright Status:
- Public Domain
- Accession Number:
- B1992.8.11(41)
- Classification:
- Drawings & Watercolors
- Collection:
- Prints and Drawings
- Subject Terms:
- angel | armor | chalice | cup | fire | flame | helmets | horse (animal) | knight (landholder) | literary theme | men | nautilus shell cup | religious and mythological subject | shield | sky | sun | sword | text
- 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:3674
- Export:
- XML
- IIIF Manifest:
- JSON
Painting Networks - Romantic and Victorian Watercolors (Chazen Museum of Art, 2012-09-22 - 2012-12-02) [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]
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]