Who painted The Descent of Peace [recto]?

The Descent of Peace [recto] was painted by William Blake in 1815.

Where can I see The Descent of Peace [recto]?

The Descent of Peace [recto] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Descent of Peace [recto]?

The Descent of Peace [recto] is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of The Descent of Peace [recto]?

Museum-quality prints of The Descent of Peace [recto] are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Descent of Peace [recto]

William Blake , 1815

The Descent of Peace [recto] is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work titled The Descent of Peace (recto) is a graphite drawing executed around 1815.

Inscription: Inscribed:by Frederick Tatham, lower right in brown ink: Sketched by / William Blake / vouched / by Fredk. Tatham

About this work

Overview

The work titled The Descent of Peace (recto) is a graphite drawing executed around 1815. It is attributed to William Blake, the English poet‑artist whose practice spanned drawing, painting, and printmaking. The piece exemplifies Blake’s late‑period output, created during the final years of his life while he remained based in London.

Subject & Meaning

While the drawing’s precise narrative is not documented, its title suggests an allegorical treatment of peace’s arrival or decline. Blake frequently employed symbolic motifs to explore spiritual and philosophical ideas, and the composition likely continues this tradition, inviting viewers to contemplate the tension between conflict and harmony.

Technique & Style

Rendered entirely in graphite, the drawing displays Blake’s careful draftsmanship, marked by fine line work and subtle shading. The medium allows for precise control, and the piece reflects his characteristic blend of visionary imagination with meticulous rendering, a hallmark of his approach to both literary and visual creation.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1815, the drawing emerged at a time when Blake’s work was largely overlooked by contemporary audiences. It was not widely exhibited or published during his lifetime, and its later recognition aligns with the posthumous reassessment that elevated Blake to a central position in Romantic art and poetry.

Context

The Descent of Peace belongs to the broader Romantic movement, which prized individual imagination and emotional depth. Blake’s integration of poetic sensibility into visual art contributed to the era’s expanding definition of artistic expression, influencing subsequent generations of artists who sought to merge narrative symbolism with technical skill.