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Creator:
William Blake, 1757–1827
Text by Thomas Gray, 1716–1771
Title:
"A wond'rous boy shall Rinda bear, Who ne'er shall comb his raven hair..." (Design 83)
Additional Title(s):

Verso: "Ha! no Traveller art thou, King of Men, I know thee now..." Design 84)

The Descent of Odin
Part Of:

Collective Title: The Poems of Thomas Gray

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: "7"; in graphite center: "x"; on verso in black ink upper left: "8"; in graphite center: "+"

Lettered on inlaid page: "AN ODE. 123 | Now my weary lips I close: | Leave me, leave me to repose. | ODIN. | Prophetess, my spell obey: | Once again arise, and say, | Who th' avenger of his guilt, | By whom shall Hoder's blood be spilt. | PROPHETESS. | In the caverns of the west, | By Odin's fierce embrace comprest, | A wond'rous boy shall Rinda bear, | Who ne'er shall comb his raven hair, | Nor wash his visage in the stream, | Nor see the sun's departing beam, | Till he on Hoder's corse shall smile | Flaming on the funeral pile. | Now my weary lips I close: | Leave me, leave me to repose. | I ODIN."; Lettered on verso, on inlaid page: "124 THE DESCENT OF ODIN. | ODIN. | Yet awhile my call obey; | Prophetess, awake, and say, | What Virgins these, in speechless woe, | That bend to earth their solemn brow, | That their flaxen tresses tear, | And snowy veils, that float in air. | Tell me whence their sorrows rose: | Then I leave thee to repose. | PROPHETESS. | Ha! no Traveller art thou, | King of Men, I know thee now; | Mightiest of a mighty line-- | ODIN. | No boding Maid of skill divine | Art thou, nor Prophetess of good, | But mother of the giant-brood! | PRO-"

Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.11(42)
Classification:
Drawings & Watercolors
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
armor | banks (riverbanks) | clouds | comb (grooming tool) | gown | helmets | hills | knight (landholder) | lake | literary theme | man | nude | religious and mythological subject | river | shield | shore (landform) | sitting | sky | sun | sunrise | text | trees | water | woman
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:3676
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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]


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