69068: William Blake (British, 1757-1827) Adam and Eve

William Blake (British, 1757-1827) Adam and Eve Expelled from Eden, circa 1820-5 (?) Graphite, pen and ink, and touches of wash on wove paper 4-3x8 x 6-1x4 inches (11.1 x 15.9 cm) (sheet) Inscribed lower right by a different hand: I7762 PROVENANCE: William Augustus White, Cambridge, Massachusetts; His sister, Mrs. Frances White Emerson, Cambridge, Massachusetts, bequeathed from the above; Mrs. Jon Wiig, Worthington, Massachusetts, bequeathed from the above, 1939; Berry-Hill Galleries, New York, 1975; Mr. and Mrs. Alice Kaplan, acquired from the above, 1976. EXHIBITED: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1939 (196, as Two figures facing out. A slight sketch similar in character to drawings in the Rossetti MS, possibly a design for 'Adam and Eve,' lent by Mrs. Emerson). LITERATURE: G. Keynes, Drawings of William Blake: 92 Pencil Studies, New York, 1970, p. xiv, no. 45, illustrated; The Connoisseur, February 1976, pl. 22, illustrated; M. Butlin, The Paintings and Drawings of William Blake, New Haven and London, 1981, p. 541, plate 1026 (cat. 781A), illustrated. Blake scholar Martin Butlin notes in The Paintings and Drawings of William Blake (p. 541), "Presumably an illustration in general terms to Milton's Paradise Lost. Adam and Eve walk towards the left, turning their bodies to raise their left arms back towards two (or more) angels retiring on the right (Adam and Eve's attitude presumabely explains the strange title given this work in the 1939 Philadelphia catalogue). On the left a winged Satan, similiar to the figure in No. 590, arouses his warriors from the flames. Dated c. 1807 by Keynes but possibly, on account of the swaying poses of Adam and Eve, to be dated rather later. The underlying pencil drawing has been partly gone over in ink. In the actual drawing this is more convincing than in reproduction, but it is still possible that this could have been added by someone else such as John Linnell."

HID03101062020

© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Condition Report: According to M. Butlin, the inscriptions to be seen in Keynes's reproduction, "W. Blake" and a repeated "I7762," also not in Blake's hand, were removed in in 1976 (p. 541). Age and light toning to the sheet, the extent of which is not visible when mat is closed. A very few extremely faint pinpoints of foxing visible upon close inspection. A small dot of skinning at left edge of sheet, not visible when mat is closed. Discoloration and slight bumping to extreme edges and corners of sheet, not visible when mat is closed. Sheet is hinged to board. Window mat measures 9 3x8 by 11 1x4 inches. Framed under acrylic.
Framed Dimensions 12.25 X 14 X 1.25 Inches Heritage Auctions strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Heritage regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only And should Not be relied upon as statements of fact, And do Not constitute a representation, warranty, Or assumption of liability by Heritage. All lots offered are sold "As Is"

Buyer's Premium per Lot:25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,001 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,001 per lot.