William Cowper

William Cowper by William Blake, created in 1802, is a historically significant engraved portrait illustrating the relationship between art and literary celebrity in the United Kingdom during the early Romantic era. Executed as a print, this work showcases the precise, linear style that defined Blake’s masterful technique in engraving, a skill he utilized both for his own visionary compositions and for commercial commissions like this one.

The subject, William Cowper (1731-1800), was a celebrated English poet of the late eighteenth century known for his naturalistic verses and deeply personal reflections on faith and anxiety. The decision to commission or publish an engraving of Cowper shortly after his death speaks to his lasting cultural impact. Blake’s rendering captures the poet’s pensive character, utilizing the inherent sharpness of the engraving medium to delineate Cowper’s features and expression with great clarity.

As a graphic work, this piece provides valuable insight into the commercial dissemination of images during the period, where highly reproducible prints were crucial for widespread recognition of public figures. Dating from 1802, the print exemplifies the kind of illustrative work that supported Blake’s career while allowing him to maintain the rigorous technical standards required of a master artist. This important work is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, representing a crucial element of the museum’s holdings of early nineteenth-century British prints. The historical context and age of the work contribute to its standing as a public domain resource, ensuring its enduring scholarly availability.