The Book of Job: Pl. 19, Every one also gave him a piece of money

The Book of Job: Pl. 19, Every one also gave him a piece of money by William Blake is a powerful example of the artist’s late style, executed as an intricate engraving in 1825. This work belongs to Blake’s renowned suite of twenty-one illustrations interpreting the Old Testament narrative, a project that consumed the artist in his final years. As a towering figure in British Romanticism, Blake often utilized the print medium to disseminate his profound theological and symbolic visions throughout the United Kingdom. This particular image showcases Blake’s mastery of line and tone, characteristic of the finest examples of nineteenth-century book illustration and fine art prints.

The plate illustrates the moment of Job’s final redemption and restoration. Having endured immense physical and spiritual trials, Job is shown receiving a blessing from his restored family and friends, who offer him gifts of money in accordance with the biblical text. Blake often utilized highly symmetrical and structured compositions in the series, emphasizing the harmonious return to divine order. In this scene, the central figures are depicted in a state of solemn reverence and quiet joy, reflecting the spiritual intensity that permeates Blake’s oeuvre.

Blake’s deeply personal and visionary reading of the Book of Job remains one of the high points of English graphic art. This specific engraving, designated as a vital component of the overall series, is held in the extensive collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, preserving its cultural significance for future study. Because the original works from this important series are now generally considered to be in the public domain, high-quality reproductions allow scholars and enthusiasts worldwide to examine Blake’s complex theological iconography.