Sabrina's Silvery Flood, from Thornton's "Pastorals of Virgil"

Sabrina's Silvery Flood, from Thornton's "Pastorals of Virgil" by William Blake (1821) is a seminal work executed in wood engraving, reflecting the artist's intense engagement with classical literature toward the end of his career. This print, classified as a second state impression, illustrates a passage from Virgil's Eclogues, filtered through the spiritual and visionary aesthetic unique to the artist.

The diminutive scale of the scene belies its dramatic intensity. Blake utilizes the unforgiving nature of wood engraving to create profound contrasts, depicting a catastrophic deluge. The viewer witnesses a sudden flood event engulfing the landscape, threatening the small structures (Houses) clinging precariously to the high ground. Scattered groups of domestic animals, specifically Sheep, attempt to flee the rising water, while stylized, elemental Trees frame the chaotic central action, amplifying the sense of divine intervention and natural disaster.

These illustrations were commissioned by Dr. Robert John Thornton for an edition of Virgil published in 1821. Although the designs were initially deemed crudely executed by contemporary critics due to their radical simplification compared to prevailing academic standards, these prints are now recognized as masterpieces of Romantic era graphic art. Blake’s revolutionary approach to the medium deeply influenced subsequent generations of printmakers. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this significant impression, making this crucial work accessible for the study of the artist's late output.