The Death of Saint Joseph

The Death of Saint Joseph by William Blake is a sensitive religious drawing created in 1803, classifying it within the British art produced during the period 1801 to 1825. This distinctive piece demonstrates Blake’s mixed-media approach, utilizing delicate watercolor washes, precise graphite sketching, and tonal applications of charcoal applied to wove paper. This technical combination allowed the artist to capture both the spiritual weight and the expressive detail of his visionary subjects.

Blake, a poet and printmaker as well as an illustrator, was deeply invested in spiritual narratives, often reinterpreting biblical stories with his own unique, intensely personal symbolism. The subject matter centers on the moment of Saint Joseph’s final earthly departure, traditionally depicted with the attendance of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. The composition, although rendered in the modest scale of a drawing, likely carries the profound emotional and devotional intensity characteristic of Blake’s work. His mastery of line work, achieved through the graphite and charcoal elements, creates an ethereal yet powerful scene that distinguishes it from the more formal oil paintings of the era.

This work serves as a significant example of the graphic output from this influential British artist. It illustrates the preparatory and experimental methods Blake employed before translating his concepts into more finished prints or larger-scale commissions. Today, the original resides in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it is preserved as a key artifact of Romantic-era spiritual illustration. Although the original medium is fragile, digital access to the image is common, and prints are often made available through collections designated as public domain, furthering academic engagement with the artist’s intricate drawing practice.