Illustrated manuscript of Genesis : God the Father in the act of Creation

Maker William Blake (British, 1757 - 1827)

Additional Title(s)

Genesis Manuscript, First Page of Text
Genesis manuscript [no. 3 of 11 leaves]

Collections

William Blake Collection

ClassificationsDRAWINGS

Dateca. 1826-1827

Mediumpencil, pen(?) and watercolor on wove paper

Dimensionsheadpiece: 3 1/8 x 9 1/4 in. (8 x 23.5 cm.) image including text: 11 9/16 x 9 1/4 in. (29.4 x 23.5 cm.) sheet: 14 13/16 x 10 13/16 in. (37.7 x 27.5 cm.)

DescriptionText of Genesis 1:1-18 in green and red over pencil, with liquid gold on the initial "I". In the design above the text, a bearded figure-no doubt God the Father-reaches down with His left hand in an act of creation. This gesture is similar to the demiurge in Blake's "Ancient of Days," the frontispiece to Europe (1794). The sinister implications of the comparison are somewhat mitigated by the Father's right hand, raised with a palm outward in blessing. If Blake's chapter heading also serves as a caption for the headpiece, then the Father is creating Adam, "the Natural Man." Close to each side of the Father is a winged angel, with outer arm extended slightly above the horizontal, to form a symmetrical pattern. Pencil outlines define billowing clouds, some extending down both margins of the text.

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Label TextGod the Father, accompanied bny angels, reaches down with his left arm in the act of creation. He raises his right hand in blessing. This is a more beneficent version of Blake's most famous single design, The Ancient of Days, displayed in an adjacent room.

Status

Not on view

Object number000.34

Terms