Shepherd Chases Away Wolf, from The Pastorals of Virgil

Shepherd Chases Away Wolf, from The Pastorals of Virgil by William Blake English, 1757-1827, is a delicate yet powerful example of early nineteenth-century English printmaking. Created in 1821, this print is executed as a wood engraving on off-white wove paper. Blake undertook the task of illustrating Robert John Thornton’s edition of The Pastorals by the Roman poet Virgil, a demanding project that culminated in some of his most renowned small-scale works. Although initially criticized for their rudimentary style and scale, these diminutive images are now recognized as pioneering examples of modernist simplicity and dramatic light in the history of prints.

In Shepherd Chases Away Wolf, Blake captures a tense, pastoral moment integral to the narrative of protection and threat in classical literature. The small scale emphasizes the dramatic intensity of the encounter, where the shepherd aggressively defends his flock against the looming canine threat. The artist, known for his visionary approach, utilized the challenging medium of wood engraving to create dynamic contrasts between dark, textured shadows and sharply illuminated figures. These small images, rooted firmly in the classical literary and cultural traditions of England, are celebrated for their expressive energy despite their size. The work is classified as a print and resides within the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As this piece is often considered essential to understanding Blake’s later career, high-quality images of this classic work are sometimes shared across platforms, occasionally entering the public domain for research and appreciation.