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Lucifer and the Pope in Hell

Lucifer and the Pope in Hell

Maker (British, 1757 - 1827)
Collections
ClassificationsPRINTS
Dateca. 1794-1796
Mediumetching/engraving color printed with gum or glue based pigments and hand finished with watercolors, pen and ink on wove[?] paper
Dimensionssheet: 7 13/16 x 10 13/16 in. (19.9 x 27.4 cm.) mount: 7 13/16 x 10 13/16 in. (19.9 x 27.4 cm.)
DescriptionColor printed by Blake from the surface of the plate and some intaglio lines in gum or glue based pigments (predominately blue, olive brown, green, mustard yellow. Extensively hand finished in watercolors (reddish orange, black, light blue, flesh pink, touches of opaque white) and pen and ink. The only other traced impression (British Museum) is printed in intaglio and uncolored. The date of etching/engraving is based on the graphic style and the thematic similarities between the print and Blake's illuminated books of 1793-95. Blake seems to have done most of his color printing from copperplates ca. 1794-96. He first executed a version of his design ca. 1780-85 as a pen and wash drawing, "The King of Babylon in Hell" (Royal Collection, Windsor; Butlin 1981, No. 145).
Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
Label TextThis print demonstrates Blake's sense of the interconnections between Biblical prophecy and contemporary politics. The triple-crowned Pope on the right is given the caricatured face of England's King George III. He will join in hell other fallen monarchs and soldiers overthrown by the French Revolution and its offspring.
Status
Not on view
Object number000.125