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Creator:
William Blake, 1757–1827
Text by Thomas Gray, 1716–1771
Title:
The Bard Singing Owen's Praise (Design 89)
Additional Title(s):

Verso: "Dauntless on his native sands, The dragon-son of Mona stands..." (Design 90)

The Triumphs of Owen
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: "3"; in graphite center: "x"; on verso in black ink upper left: "4"; in graphite center: "+"

Lettered on inlaid page: "THE | TRIUMPHS OF OWEN. | A FRAGMENT. | OWEN's praise demands my song, | OWEN swift, and OWEN strong; | Fairest flower of Roderic's stem, | Gwyneth's shield, and Britain's gem. | He nor heaps his brooded stores, | Nor on all profusely pours; | Lord of every regal art, | Liberal hand, and open heart. | I4 Big"; Lettered on verso, on inlaid page: "130 TRIUMPHS OF OWEN. | Big with hosts of mighty name, | Squadrons three against him came; | This the force of Eirin hiding; | Side by side as proudly riding, | On her shadow long and gay | Lochlin plows the wat'ry way: | There the Norman sails afar | Catch the winds, and join the war: | Black and huge along they sweep, | Burthens of the angry deep. | Dauntless on his native sands | The dragon-son of Mona stands: | In glittering arms and glory drest, | High he rears his ruby crest. | There the thund'ring strokes begin, | There the press, and there the din; | Talymalfra's rocky shore | Echoing to the battle's roar. | Where"

Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.11(45)
Classification:
Drawings & Watercolors
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
armor | beard | bodies | chair | dead | feather | gown | harp | helmets | knight (landholder) | literary theme | men | religious and mythological subject | shield | soldier | stars | 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:3682
Export:
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IIIF Manifest:
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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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