Adam and the Beasts, Frontispiece to Hayley's "Ballads"

Adam and the Beasts, Frontispiece to Hayley's "Ballads" is a celebrated engraving created by William Blake in 1802. This work served as the frontispiece for Ballads, a collection of poems published by Blake’s friend and patron, William Hayley. The selection of Adam interacting peacefully with the animal kingdom reflects the themes of creation and prelapsarian innocence prominent in both Blake’s visual art and the accompanying texts. As an original print, the technique showcases Blake’s mastery of the linear style, characterizing figures with powerful yet ethereal anatomy typical of his approach to illustration.

The composition depicts Adam, the first man, standing centrally amidst a dense gathering of creatures in the Garden of Eden. Blake emphasizes the harmony of nature before the Fall by showing traditionally aggressive animals resting docilely near him. Detailed renderings of various beasts are evident: majestic Lions recline calmly, while domestic and wild fowl, including elegant Peacocks and animated Roosters, fill the lower foreground. Powerful Horses are also shown in proximity to Adam, acknowledging his role as the master of the beasts. This densely populated scene is typical of Blake’s illustrations, combining classical figure study with visionary narrative.

The work is highly significant within Blake’s career, documenting his complex working relationship with Hayley during their time residing in Felpham. This particular print is housed in the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Given its age and status as an important print from the Romantic era, high-resolution reproductions of Adam and the Beasts are widely distributed, often entering the public domain, allowing global accessibility to Blake's unique illustrative genius.