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Creator:
Print made by William Blake, 1757–1827
Text by William Blake, 1757–1827
Title:
Chapter II, "Muster around the bleak desarts..." (Plate 6)
Part Of:

Collective Title: The First Book of Urizen, Copy A

Date:
1794
Materials & Techniques:
Color-printed relief etching in orange-brown ink, with watercolor on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Dimensions:
Sheet: 10 x 7 1/8 inches (25.4 x 18.1 cm), Plate: 6 x 4 inches (15.2 x 10.2 cm), Spine: 10 1/4 inches (26 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:

Inscribed in graphite upper right: "6"; in red ink upper right: "3"

Lettered inside image, center: "Urizen:c II."; left: "Muster around the bleak desarts | Now fill'd with clouds darkness & waters | That roll'd perplex'd labring & utter'd | Words articulate, bursting in thunders | That roll'd on the tops of his mountains | 4. From the depths of dark solitude, | From | The eternal abode in my holiness, | Hidden, set apart in my stern counsels | Reserv'd for the days of futurity. | I have sought for a joy without pain. | For a solid without fluctuation | Why will you die O Eternals? | Why live in unquenchable burnings? | 5 First I fought with the fire; consum'd | Inwards, into a deep world within: | A void immense, wild dark & deep | Where nothing was; Natures wide womb | And self balanc'd stretch'd o'er the void | I alone, even I! the winds merciless | Bound; but condensing, in torrents | They fall & fall; strong, I repell'd | The vast waves, & arose on the waters | A wide world of solid obstruction | 6. Here alone I in books formd of me- | -tals | Have written the secrets of wisdom"; right: "The secrets of dark contemplation | By fightings and conflicts dire. | With terrible monsters Sin-bred: | Which the bosoms of all inhabit: | Seven deadly Sins of the soul. | 7. Lo! I unfold my darkness: and on | This rock, place with strong hand the Book | Of eternal brass, written in my solitude. | 8. Laws of peace. of love. of unity; | Of pity. compassion. forgiveness. | Let each chuse one habitation: | His ancient infinite mansion: | One command. one joy. one desire, | One curse. one weight, one measure | One King. one God, one Law. | Chap: III. | 1. The voice ended, they saw his pale | visage | Emerge from the darkness; his hand | On the rock of eternity unclasping | The Book of brass. Rage siez'd the strong | 2. Rage, fury. incense indignation | In cataracts of fire blood & gall | In whirlwinds of sulphurous smoke: | And enormous forms of energy;"

Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.5(6)
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
ground | head | leaf | literary theme | men | nudes | religious and mythological subject | text | trees | vines
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:3921
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The Romantic Print in the Age of Revolutions: Hero, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History (Yale Center for British Art, 2003-01-23 - 2003-06-01) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition] [Exhibition Description]

William Blake (Tate Britain, 2000-11-02 - 2001-02-04) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition]


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