Artwork
The Pastorals of Virgil, Eclogue I: The Blasted Tree
The Pastorals of Virgil, Eclogue I: The Blasted Tree is a print by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1821 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1934.145
- Credit line
- Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland
About this work
Overview
The Blasted Tree is a wood engraving by William Blake, created for Dr. Robert John Thornton's edition of Virgil's Pastorals, a collection of Latin poems.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a lightning-split tree, two shepherds conversing beneath it, and grazing sheep in the distance, illustrating Virgil's Eclogue I in a rural setting.
Technique & Style
Blake's use of wood engraving, a technique he employed only for this project, is characterized by rough, scratchy lines and a 'white on black' approach, achieved by cutting away from the woodblock to create lighter areas.
Context
The Pastorals of Virgil was a popular schoolbook used to teach Latin, featuring translations of Virgil's poems that explored various themes against a rural backdrop.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
