William Blake and D. Heins

Mrs. Cowper Mother of the Poet

William Blake's engraving, "Mrs. Cowper Mother of the Poet" was created by the British artist in 1803. It is one of six engravings Blake created for "The Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper", a three volume set authored by William Hayley. This first edition impression was printed (under Blake’s supervision) by Catherine Boucher, William Blake’s wife. Second edition impressions were printed by other hands.

This original William Blake engraving is based upon a miniature portrait by D. Heins, a minor German artist active in Norfolk from approximately 1725 to 1756. It is the only known portrait in oil of Anne Donne Cowper (1703- 1737), the mother of the poet, William Cowper. Anne Cowper died from complications of childbirth at the age of thirty-four. Many years later (1790) William Cowper acquired the portrait miniature which provided the genesis for his poem, "On the Receipt of My Mother’s Picture out of Norfolk". The first two stanzas are quoted below.

Original Engraving by the British artist, William Blake designed by D. Heins.

Mrs. Cowper Mother of the Poet

View other original works of art by William Blake.

William Blake (London, 1757 - 1827)
#	Image	Title & Engraver & Designer	Medium	Date	Printer	Notes	-
01.-		Mrs. Cowper Mother of the Poet by William Blake designed by D. Heins	Original Engraving (First Edition)	1802-1803	Catherine Boucher (Mrs. Blake)	Catalogue XLIV, #2. First State of Two
02-		William Cowper by William Blake designed by George Romney	Original Engraving (First Edition)	1802-1803	Catherine Boucher (Mrs. Blake)	Catalogue XLIV, #1. First State of Two.	Sold
02-		William Cowper: Author of "The Task" by William Blake designed by Sir Thomas Lawrence	Original Engraving (First Edition)	1802-1803	Catherine Boucher (Mrs. Blake)	Catalogue XLIV, #3. First State of Two

Selected Directories in our Gallery (Art of The Print / www.artoftheprint.com), with a focus on the area of interest for this original work of art.
Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com sells international fine art. Our collection consists of original paintings, watercolors, drawings, and original prints, such as etchings, engravings, lithographs, woodcuts, silk-screens, aquatints, mezzotints, linocuts, monoprints, and other mediums of original art. All of these works of art have been created by prominent and established painters, illustrators, watercolour artists and printmakers from around the world. The art in our gallery ranges from the early Renaissance period to the modern and contemporary art period. You can view other original artworks similar to the subject under discussion on this page listed in the following art directories.
Century:
Old Master Artist Index	The 'Old Master' artist directory contains a selection of original works of art created by international painters, illustrators and graphic artists. These original works date from the Renaissance period to the end of the 1700's.
Country:
British Artists Index	The 'British Art' directory contains a listing of original works of art created by artists from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and or art with a British theme. The artworks date from the 17th century to the 20th century.
Subject:
Authors & Artists Portrayed in Art Index	The 'Authors & Artists Portrayed in Art' directory contains a listing of original works of art by international artists with a focus on artworks depicting studies and portraits of novelists, poets, biographers, historians, dramatists, painters & graphic artists and depictions with an artistic or literary theme.
Portraits & Figure Studies Index	The 'Portrait Studies' directory contains a listing of original works of art concentrating upon the theme of portraits, self-portraits and studies. Created by International artists throughout the centuries, these fine examples of portraiture have left a permanent and vivid record of their sitters.
Women Portrayed in Art Index	The 'Women in Art' directory contains a selection of original works of art with depictions of women in an almost infinite variety of roles, such as women as an object of beauty & desire, at work and of course, motherhood are major themes, as well as many other representations of women have emerged in the fine arts throughout the centuries.

Title:	Mrs. Cowper Mother of the Poet
Engraver:	Blake, William (London, 1757 - 1827)
Designer:	Heins, D. (German artist active, Norfolk c. 1725 to 1756)
Date:	1802 - 1803
Medium:	Original Engraving (First Edition)
Printer:	Catherine Boucher (Mrs. Blake)
Note:	William Blake: An eminent English artist and poet, William Blake entered Pars’ Drawing Academy at the age of ten. At fourteen he was apprenticed to the engraver, Ryland, and then became a pupil of James Basire, from 1771 to 1778. Basire employed Blake as his apprentice and much of his time was spent drawing London churches and, in particular, the effigies within Westminster Abbey.
	Upon completion of his apprenticeship William Blake studied briefly at the Royal Academy. During the 1780’s Blake worked mostly as a commercial engraver. In 1787 he perfected a means of engraving and printing his illustrated poems in colour. Such masterpieces as "Songs of Innocence", "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" and "Jerusalem" followed.
	During most of his career William Blake was considered an ‘eccentric’. Few saw the genius of his mystical art and writings. Poverty was thus a constant threat until 1818, when he received the sympathetic patronage of the artist, John Linnell. Linnell (1792-1882) introduced Blake to a group of younger artists which included Calvert, Varley and Samuel Palmer. Under his influence they formed themselves into the influential brotherhood known as the Ancients.
	William Blake spent his entire life in London, save for a few years (1800-1804) when he lived and worked in Felpham, Sussex. At this time he was under the often uncomfortable patronage of William Hayley (1745-1820), author of "The Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper". William Blake engraved the four plates (including this original portrait engraving) to accompany the first two volumes during 1802. Blake in turn engaged his wife, Catherine Boucher, to print the plates.
	Catherine was an important addition to William Blake’s life and art. It is said that when they first married, in 1782, she could neither read nor write. She soon, however, gained complete literacy and bound her husband’s books, coloured many of his illustrations and, as is here the case, printed some of his engravings. It is reported that the Blake’s received about 21 Pounds for their plate-printing work from Hayley.
	By 1805 the relationship between Blake and Hayley had soured. Hayley wrote that Blake "appeared to me on the verge of Insanity." Complaining about the commissions he received from Hayley, William Blake wrote, "[Hayley] thinks to turn me into a Portrait Painter as he did Poor Romney, but this he nor all the devils in hell will never do."
	Mrs. Cowper Mother of the Poet: This engraving is based upon a miniature portrait by D. Heins, a minor German artist active in Norfolk from approximately 1725 to 1756. It is the only known portrait in oil of Anne Donne Cowper (1703- 1737), the mother of the poet, William Cowper. Anne Cowper died from complications of childbirth at the age of thirty-four. Many years later (1790) William Cowper acquired the portrait miniature which provided the genesis for his poem, "On the Receipt of My Mother’s Picture out of Norfolk". The first two stanzas are quoted below:
	“O that these lips had language! Life has pass’d With me but roughly since I heard thee last. Those lips are thine -- thy own sweet smile I see, The same, that oft in childhood solac’d me; Voice only fails, else, how distinct they say, ‘Grieve not, my child, chase all thy fears away!’ The meek intelligence of those dear eyes (Blest be the art that can immortalize, The art that baffles time’s tyrannic claim To quench it) here shines on me still the same. Faithful remembancer of one so dear, O welcome guest, though unexpected here! Who bidd’st me honour with an artless song, Affectionate, a mother lost so long. I will obey, not willingly alone, But gladly, as the precept were her own: And, while that face renews my filial grief, Fancy shall weave a charm for my relief, Shall steep me in Elysian reverie, A momentary dream, that thou art she.’.
	A Biographical Note: William Cowper (Hertfordshire, 1731 - East Dereham, 1800) was called to the bar in 1754, but never practiced law. In 1763 he attempted suicide and was confined for a period of two years. In 1769 William Cowper moved to Huntington, near Cambridge, to live with the family of Rev. Morley Unwin. Upon the death of Unwin, Cowper moved with the family to Olney, where he collaborated with Rev. John Newton in writing "Olney Hymns" (1779). His principal works include "Poems" (1782), "The Diverting History of John Gilpin" (1785), "To Mary", and "The Loss of the Royal George". Cowper’s last poem, "The Castaway" (1799) deals with his lifelong deliberation that he was forsaken by God.
Raisonne:	Robert N. Essick, "William Blake’s Commercial Book Illustrations", Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1991, pp. 85-87.
	Catalogue XLIV, #2. First State of Two.
Size:	8 1/4 X 5 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $795.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon wove paper and with full margins as published for "The Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper" in 1803. Bearing the full publisher’s address along the lower margin: "Publish’d Novemb’r 5, 1802 by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard".
	Containing several slight foxing marks within the outer margins as well a some horizontal waving within the image (no doubt caused by printing pressure), else a well printed impression (by Mrs. Blake) and in very good condition throughout. Mrs. Cowper, Mother of the Poet represents a prime, original example of the engraved art of William Blake.
Subject;	William Blake, "Mrs. Cowper, Mother of the Poet", original engraving, Catherine Boucher, Mrs. Blake, Anne Donne Cowper (1703- 1737), William Hayley, "The Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper", John Linnell, the Ancients, On the Receipt of My Mother’s Picture out of Norfolk, "Songs of Innocence", "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell".
Important Information:	The artist biographies, research and or information pertaining to all the original works of art posted on our pages has been written and designed by Greg & Connie Peters exclusively for our site, (www.artoftheprint.com). Please visit us regularly to view the latest artworks offered for sale. We will soon be posting an update of our most recent research and include the biographical and historical information pertaining to our next collection of original works of art created by artists throughout the centuries. We hope you found the information you were looking for and that it has been beneficial. Our Gallery, (Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com) guarantees the authenticity of every work of art we sell 100%. Full documentation and certification is provided. We offer a wide selection of international fine art dating from the early Renaissance to the contemporary art period.