Canto II, Verse 471

Canto II, Verse 471 by William Blake and Mary Ann Flaxman is a significant example of British printmaking from the early nineteenth century. Dated 1803, this work is classified as an engraving, a demanding medium where lines are precisely cut into a copper or steel plate to produce the final inked image. This collaboration between the renowned poet-artist Blake and the skilled illustrator Flaxman places the piece firmly within the 1801 to 1825 period, a transitional era in British art marked by the growing influence of Neoclassicism and Romanticism in literary illustration.

The work, whose title suggests it is an illustration for a major literary source like Dante's Inferno, demonstrates the high level of technical proficiency required for intricate print production during this era. Flaxman, known for her contributions to classical and literary illustration, often brought clarity and measured narrative structure to her designs. Blake, on the other hand, infused his characteristic symbolic depth and spiritual energy into the final composition. The successful execution of the engraving technique allows for crisp detail and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, essential for conveying the intense narrative moments typical of the subjects favored during this British period.

As a key representative of British artistry from the early 1800s, this print provides valuable insight into the complex commercial and artistic relationship between designers and professional engravers of the time. This specific impression of the engraving is housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., contributing to the museum's extensive holdings of prints from the Romantic movement. Because of its age and historical context, the artwork Canto II, Verse 471 is often available for study by researchers through public domain initiatives, further cementing the legacy of both Blake and Flaxman as masters of the graphic arts.