The Great Red Dragon and the Beast from the Sea

The Great Red Dragon and the Beast from the Sea by William Blake, created around 1805, is one of the artist’s most visually dramatic interpretations of the biblical Book of Revelation. This powerful drawing is classified as a work on paper, executed expertly in pen and ink with watercolor over an initial graphite sketch. The chosen medium allows Blake to achieve both sharp linear definition and the dramatic application of translucent color, conveying the horror and divine grandeur inherent in the apocalyptic vision.

The subject illustrates the prophetic moment from Revelation 13, depicting the rise of the Beast from the Sea, a seven-headed monstrosity receiving power directly from the Great Red Dragon. Blake, a pivotal figure in the British Romantic movement, consistently employed his art to explore complex religious and mythological narratives, transforming traditional iconography into highly personalized, symbolic visions. Created within the period of 1801 to 1825, this piece reflects the era’s fascination with sublime terror and esoteric subjects. The composition emphasizes the stark contrast between spiritual light and monstrous corruption, a thematic concern central to Blake’s overarching artistic philosophy.

The high intensity and symbolic complexity of the drawing solidify Blake's reputation as both a master draftsman and a visionary poet-artist. This particular composition belongs to a series of watercolor illustrations dedicated to the Book of Revelation, which were commissioned by Blake’s loyal patron, Thomas Butts. Today, the work resides in the extensive collection of the National Gallery of Art. Thanks to its historical importance, high-quality prints derived from this and similar works by the British master are frequently found within various public domain collections, ensuring broad accessibility to his unique contribution to art history.