Christ Descending into the Grave, from "The Grave," a Poem by Robert Blair

Christ Descending into the Grave, from "The Grave," a Poem by Robert Blair is a profound engraving created by William Blake in 1813. This powerful print is part of a renowned series of illustrations commissioned for a major edition of Robert Blair’s popular 18th-century poem, The Grave. While Blake was responsible for the original designs, the finished copperplate was skillfully engraved by Louis Schiavonetti, ensuring the wider dissemination of Blake's intense visual interpretations.

Blake’s design captures the dramatic theological moment of Christ’s harrowing descent following the crucifixion, emphasizing the belief in resurrection and victory over death. In this specific print, the figure of Christ is rendered with heroic dynamism, dramatically entering the dark passage to the realm of the dead. This depiction of the central religious subject utilizes the stark linearity and deep contrasts inherent to the engraving medium, giving the scene an intense, ethereal quality favored in Romantic-era British prints.

Although the execution was delegated, the composition remains intrinsically Blakean, combining elements of Neoclassical form with the artist's unique visionary approach to spiritual narratives. This set of illustrations proved highly influential, solidifying Blake's reputation as a masterful and imaginative interpreter of poetry. This significant example of the 1813 publication is held within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as a critical document of Blake’s involvement in early 19th-century book illustration.