William Blake, 1757–1827, BritishText by Thomas Gray, 1716–1771, British
Title:
"The Pensive Selima, Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes, She saw; and purr'd applause..." (Design 9)
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: "3"; in graphite center: "+"; on verso in gray ink upper left: "4"; in graphite center: "+"
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.11(5)
Classification:
Drawings & Watercolors
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
fish | cat (domestic cat) | literary theme | scissors | text | vines | flowers (plants) | children | women | water
Currently On View:
On view
Exhibition History:
William Blake: Burning Bright (Yale Center for British Art, 2025-09-04 - 2025-12-07)
Publications:
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 magazineJohn Russell, Blake the Craftsman, Art , Sunday Times, Issue no. 7749, December 12, 1971, p.27, Sunday Times Digital ArchiveArnold 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 ArchiveArnold Fawcus, William Blake's Watercolour Designs Illustrating Gray's Poems - and Mr. Paul Mellon, Connoisseur, vol. 179,no. 719, January 1972, pp. 13, 14, fig. 3, N1 C75 + (YCBA) Another copy inckuded in Vertical File Collection : V 2335