Joseph of Arimathea Among the Rocks of Albion

"Joseph of Arimathea Among the Rocks of Albion" is a powerful engraving created by the British poet and artist William Blake between 1803 and 1810. As a master draftsman and printmaker, Blake utilized the demanding technique of line engraving to produce this complex and symbolically resonant image. The creation of such detailed prints exemplifies the technical rigor applied by artists in the period spanning 1801 to 1825.

The subject matter focuses on Joseph of Arimathea, a figure linked through medieval and apocryphal traditions to the early establishment of Christianity in Britain. The figure is shown standing dramatically within a severe, rocky landscape, which the title identifies explicitly as Albion, the ancient, mystical name for England. Blake frequently incorporated these deep mythological connections into his unique cosmology, believing that Joseph traveled to Britain following the Crucifixion and may have brought the Holy Grail with him. In this engraving, Blake merges biblical narrative with national identity, presenting a vision of foundational spiritual history rooted firmly in the British Isles.

The figure is rendered with the linear precision characteristic of Blake’s mature style. The drama is heightened by the contrast between the figure's muscular, idealized form and the rough, primitive texture of the stones surrounding him. Blake’s dedication to engraving allowed him to distribute his esoteric visions to a wider audience, and the work stands as an important artifact of early 19th-century British Romanticism. This piece is preserved in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its historical significance and age, high-resolution images of this engraving are frequently available via public domain art initiatives.