Illustrations of imitation of Eclogue I
1820 - 1821
Medium
wood engraving
Dimensions
77; 35
About this artwork
inscription: ‘Colinet’
Art Historical Context
William Blake's *Illustrations of imitation ofclogue I* (1820–1821) is a delicate wood engraving, measuring just 35 × 77 mm, capturing the essence of pastoral poetry in miniature form. Created late in the visionary artist's life, it illustrates an imitation of Virgil's *Eclogue I*, the ancient Roman poet's idyllic dialogue between shepherds Tityrus and Meliboeus. The inscription "Colinet"—a nod to the shepherd-poet figure from Renaissance pastoral traditions, like Edmund Spenser's *The Shepheardes Calender*—evokes themes of rustic harmony, exile, and poetic longing that resonated through centu...
About the Artist
William Blake · 1757–1827
William Blake (1757–1827) stands as one of the most visionary and unconventional artists in British history, a poet-painter-printmaker whose mystical imagination and radical vision profoundly shaped the Romantic movement. Born in London's Soho district, Blake experienced visions from childhood—claiming to see angels in trees at age eight—and these spiritual encounters would guide his art throughou...