A Rolling Stone is Ever Bare of Moss, from The Pastorals of Virgil

A Rolling Stone is Ever Bare of Moss, from The Pastorals of Virgil is a seminal print created by William Blake English, 1757-1827, in 1821. This piece is a powerful example of wood engraving executed on off-white wove paper. Blake, a highly original and profoundly spiritual artist working in England, undertook this demanding commission late in his career as illustrations for an English edition of Dr. Robert John Thornton’s translation of Virgil’s Pastorals (or Bucolics). The small image visually interprets the ancient Latin proverb referenced in the title, depicting a lone, windswept figure in motion, symbolizing the rootlessness and spiritual barrenness suggested by the phrase.

These illustrations are celebrated for their radical departure from the smooth, conventional methods of woodblock illustration prevalent at the time. Blake consciously embraced a raw, stylized approach that prioritized symbolic form over naturalistic representation, influencing subsequent generations of English printmakers. The intense contrast achieved through the precise removal of wood lends the composition an almost primordial intensity, highlighting the artist's unique aesthetic vision. Because Blake died in 1827, prints of this important work from 1821 are generally considered within the public domain today, allowing wide access to his genius. This significant impression is preserved within the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a crucial document of early 19th-century printmaking culture in England.