Artwork

Christ Appearing to His Disciples After the Resurrection

Christ Appearing to His Disciples After the Resurrection, by William Blake, tempera, 1795
Christ Appearing to His Disciples After the Resurrection, by William Blake, tempera, 1795

Christ Appearing to His Disciples After the Resurrection is a tempera print by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1795, this hand‑colored monotype by William Blake portrays a post‑Resurrection encounter between Christ and his followers. Executed in watercolor and tempera on a single print, the image combines muted blues, yellows and earth tones, illuminated by a gentle, warm light that emphasizes the intimate setting.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, a bare‑chested, long‑haired man with a beard, stands over two kneeling figures. One disciple raises his hands in a gesture of awe, while a child peeks from behind a blanket, suggesting both revelation and protection. The outstretched hand of the standing figure conveys a moment of comfort or divine instruction.

Technique & Style

Blake employed the monotype process, printing a single impression from a painted plate, then added color by hand with watercolor and tempera. The resulting surface retains the spontaneity of a direct brushstroke while allowing precise, layered coloration, characteristic of Blake’s experimental approach to printmaking.

History & Provenance

Blake, an English poet and visual artist active in London, produced this work during the height of his creative output in the 1790s. Though little recognized in his lifetime, the piece reflects his lifelong fascination with prophetic and spiritual themes, aligning with his broader corpus of religious imagery.

Context

The image exemplifies Romanticism’s interest in personal vision, emotion, and the supernatural. Blake’s emphasis on inner revelation and his departure from classical restraint place the work within the movement’s turn toward individual imagination and spiritual experience.

Artist & collection

Portrait of William Blake

Artist

William Blake

William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.