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- Title:
The Poems of Thomas Gray, Design 13, "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College."
- Additional Title(s):
Verso: The Poems of Thomas Gray, Design 14, "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College."
- Part Of:
- Date:
- between 1797 and 1798
- Medium:
- Watercolor with pen and black ink and graphite on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream wove paper with inlaid letterpress page
- Dimensions:
- Sheet: 16 1/2 x 12 3/4 inches (41.9 x 32.4 cm)
- Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Inscribed in gray ink upper right: "1"; on verso in gray ink upper left: "2"; in gray ink upper center: "Ode on a distant prospect | of Eton College | Design | 1 Windsor terrace, a Boy contemplating | a distant view of Eton College. | 2. A Boy flying a Kite | 3 Two boys wandering in the woods | by Eton College. The Shade of | Henry the Sixth is seen among | the trees. 'Henrys holy Shade.' Line 4 | 4. 'Say Father Thames for thou hast seen | Full many a sprightly race | Who formost &c' | 5. 'The captive linnet' | The rolling circle'. | murmuring labours' &c | 6. Yet see how all around them wait | The vultures of the Mind | 7. Ambition this shall tempt to rise | Then whirl the wretch from high &c"; in gray ink center right: "Design | 8. Lo in the Vale of Years beneath | The painful family of Death | 9. When Ignorance is bliss | Tis folly to be wise | 10 Boys playing at Top."
- Credit Line:
- Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
- Copyright Status:
- Public Domain
- Accession Number:
- B1992.8.11(7)
- Classification:
- Drawings & Watercolors
- Collection:
- Prints and Drawings
- Subject Terms:
- boat | boy | kite | leaning | literary theme | man | river | running | sailboats | sky | spires | text | wall | woman
- Associated Places:
- Eton College
- Access:
- Accessible by appointment in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details. - Link:
- https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:3600
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Colin Cross, Blake revealed, William Blake : Discovery of a Masterwork , Observer, vol. 12, November 21, 1971, pp. 19-23, V 1245 Detached from Observer colour magazine [ORBIS]
John Russell, Blake the Craftsman, Art , Sunday Times, Issue no. 7749, December 12, 1971, p. 27, Sunday Times Digital Archive [ORBIS]
Arnold Fawcus, Unknown Watercolours by William Blake, Illustrated London News, vol. 259, No. 6881, December 25, 1971, pp. 45-46, 49-51, Illustrated London News Historical Archive [ORBIS]