William Blake and George Romney

William Cowper

William Blake's "William Cowper" is an original engraving designed by George Romney. It is printed upon wove paper and with full margins as published in 1803. This engraving was created as a frontis piece for a three volume set written by William Hayley and entitled, "The Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper". The first two volumes were published in 1803 and the last volume was issued a year later. In total, the British artist, William Blake engraved six plates for these volumes.

Of great interest is that Catherine Boucher (William Blake's wife) printed this first edition impression. For the second edition, printed by other hands, this portrait was considerably darkened and patches of cross hatching were added to several areas.

Original Engraving by the British artist, William Blake designed by George Romney.

William Cowper

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

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Title:	William Cowper
Engraver:	Blake, William (London, 1757 - 1827)
Designer:	Romney, George (Lancashire, 1734 - London, 1802)
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 William 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.”
	George Romney: After Gainsborough and Reynolds, George Romney ranks as the greatest English portrait and historical painter of the late eighteenth century. Born into lowly circumstances he was sent to Kendal as a young man to apprentice under the painter, Christopher Steele. He remained in this town until the early 1760’s, making his way as a local portrait painter. Romney then set out for London and made an almost overnight success of his career with his 1763 painting, "The Death of General Wolfe". In the following years he created some of the greatest portraits in the history of British art, including that of Lady Hamilton.
	Romney is reputed to have had republican ties. He was a supporter of the French Revolution and was known to have dined with Thomas Paine (the controversial author of "The Rights of Man") in 1791. He also painted the portraits of Paine, Thomas Walker and other republicans. Such sympathies, however, did not prevent Romney from keeping a most fashionable apartment in London’s Cavendish Square nor from succeeding Sir Joshua Reynolds as the appointed ‘Portrait Painter to the King’.
	William Blake's engraving, "William Cowper", is based upon a pastel portrait Romney executed in 1792. This pastel is housed in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
	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 Cowper moved to Huntington, near Cambridge, to lived 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, #1. First State of Two.
Size:	10 x 7 3/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
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: “From a Portrait in Crayons Drawn from the Life by Romney in 1792. Engraved by W. Blake 1802./ William Cowper/ Carmine Nobilem/ Published Novemb’r 5, 1802 by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard”.
	Containing several slight foxing marks on the verso, but not intruding into the engraved image. A finely printed impression (by Mrs. Blake) and in very good condition throughout. "William Cowper" represents a prime, original example of the important, engraved art of William Blake.
Subject;	William Blake, William Cowper, original engraving, Catherine Boucher, Mrs. Blake, printed by, first edition impression, William Hayley, "The Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper", John Linnell, the Ancients, George Romney, portrait and historical painter of the late eighteenth century.
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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