Illustrations of the Book of Job: The Linnell Collection of Trial States of the Plates

Illustrations of the Book of Job: The Linnell Collection of Trial States of the Plates by William Blake, executed in 1825, represents one of the most significant achievements of the artist's late career. This unbound portfolio is a highly unique compilation, containing sixty-six individual engravings that trace the meticulous technical development of the finished print series. These pieces are not final edition prints, but rather proofs documented across various supports, including different papers and fine vellum. Crucially, several of these trial states bear Blake’s own hand-drawn corrections and annotations, offering unparalleled insight into the master British printmaker's creative process and technical decisions.

The subject matter, drawn from the Old Testament Book of Job, allowed Blake to explore his lifelong preoccupation with themes of divine order, human suffering, and eventual redemption. The final suite of illustrations, commissioned by patron John Linnell, solidified Blake's stature within the art world of the period 1801 to 1825. Blake’s distinctive stylistic approach merges neoclassical forms with his characteristic visionary mysticism, rendering the theological narrative through intricately modulated line work and dramatic contrast, typical of his masterful engravings. This portfolio, named for the patron who initiated the project and collected these proofs, demonstrates the rigorous standards of execution required to produce such complex and emotionally resonant prints.

The Linnell Collection is invaluable to art historians and scholars of Blake, as it tracks the subtle variations and shifts that occurred between successive printings before the copper plates reached their definitive finished state. The visible evidence of changes in shading, composition, and text placement underscores Blake’s meticulous dedication to the art of engraving. This extraordinary British cultural document, housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., provides a singular record of the creation of one of the great print series of the early 19th century.