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Title
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Illustrations of the Book of Job (1987)
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Original Date:
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1823-1826
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Facsimile Date:
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1987
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Publisher:
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William Blake Trust
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Physical Description:
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3 volumes ; 40-41 cm.
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Background Information:
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The 1987 facsimile of Blake’s illustrations of the Book of Job followed the Trianon Press facsimiles that had also been done for the William Blake Trust. This two volume edition not only reproduced the 21 plates and title page that Blake had designed for this work between 1823 and 1826 (with a confusing date of 1825 on the title page), but included related material such as essays, a catalog of states and printings, and commentary on the plates and documentary record by David Bindman. The limited edition of this facsimile was purchased for Union College by the Friends of the Library.
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Student Commentary:
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Overview: The Book of Job is from the Old Testament and from the third section of the Hebrew Bible. The story tells of Job, a wealthy man with a large family who is known for always being good. When God brags to Satan about Job’s goodness, Satan questions how good he actually is; as a result, God takes away everything from Job and puts him through a rigorous test of his faith. Late in Blake’s life, John Linnell, Blake’s friend and patron, commissioned him to illustrate this work. The result was 21 pictorial engravings of the story plus a title page, which together demonstrate Blake’s enduring skill as an illustrator and engraver as well as his long involvement with Biblical subjects. – Caitlin Williams ‘18
