Boy Returning Joyfully, with Plough and Oxen, from Thornton's "Pastorals of Virgil"

The work Boy Returning Joyfully, with Plough and Oxen, from Thornton's "Pastorals of Virgil" was created by William Blake in 1821. This influential print is a wood engraving, a medium Blake rarely used, applying a deliberately rugged and expressive hand. The work was commissioned as one of seventeen illustrations for Dr. Robert John Thornton’s school edition of Virgil’s Eclogues, an ambitious project that fused classical literature with contemporary British art.

The scene captures a moment of quiet rural reflection, depicting a young boy leading his team of oxen and a heavy plough homeward as the sun sets. Blake’s illustration emphasizes the physical connection between the laborers and the land. Unlike the smooth, highly detailed prints common in the early 19th century, Blake’s visionary approach utilizes the dark, dramatic contrasts inherent in wood engraving, lending the image a primal, mythic quality suitable for the classical subject matter. The simple, heavy forms of the animals and the boy illustrate the themes of hard labor and the joy derived from pastoral life described by the ancient Roman poet.

These small wood engravings stand as a high point in Blake’s late career. Though initially misunderstood by critics who preferred cleaner techniques, the raw, spiritual power of these prints eventually cemented their reputation as masterpieces of British printmaking. This series had a profound influence on later generations, particularly the pastoral revival artists. This historically significant print is classified as a vital example of public domain artwork and resides today in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.