The Pastorals of Virgil

The Pastorals of Virgil by William Blake, created in 1821, is a monumental example of the artist’s late-career engagement with illustration. Classified as a Print, this specific piece consists of four distinct proofs executed using the exacting method of wood engraving on a single, uncut sheet. The creation of these diminutive yet powerful images followed a commission to illustrate Robert John Thornton's school edition of Virgil’s Third Eclogue.

This period of creativity, falling within the years 1801 to 1825, demonstrates Blake’s unique position within British art. Wood engraving offered Blake a means of expression that differed significantly from his familiar relief etching, demanding intense precision and control over the tools. Although intended for a commercial publication, the prints display Blake’s highly idiosyncratic, visionary approach rather than the typical neoclassical illustration favored by his contemporaries. Blake’s decision to pursue the rigorous discipline of this medium resulted in works celebrated for their intimate scale and powerful, condensed imagery, often described as highly primitive or intentionally archaic in contrast to the polished styles of the era.

Blake’s designs sought to capture the rustic simplicity and spiritual resonance of Virgil's bucolic poetry. The subject matter emphasizes the natural world and the relationship between shepherds, trees, and flocks, filtering classical themes through Blake’s distinctive Romantic lens. While many contemporary engravers adopted highly systematic techniques, Blake favored a rugged aesthetic that heightened the emotional impact of the imagery.

The sheet, housing four separate impressions, provides crucial insight into Blake’s working process for these small but revolutionary designs. As high-resolution images of these historic prints are often available through the public domain, art historians and enthusiasts alike can study the precision and energy of Blake’s technique firsthand. This rare and important sheet of proofs for The Pastorals of Virgil is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art.