Who painted Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity?

Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity was painted by William Blake in 1821.

Where can I see Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity?

Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity?

Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity?

Museum-quality prints of Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity

William Blake , 1821

Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1821 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1821, *Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity* is a drawing by William Blake executed in pen and ink with watercolor washes applied over a graphite underdrawing. The composition presents a line of figures, centered on an elderly bearded man holding a staff, flanked by robed women, musicians, and flag‑bearers, while sheep lie at the foot and a cloud‑filled sky with a crescent moon arches above.

Subject & Meaning

The work visualises the biblical narrative of Job after his trials, emphasizing the restoration of wealth and familial unity.

The work visualises the biblical narrative of Job after his trials, emphasizing the restoration of wealth and familial unity. Blake inscribes the phrase “Great Men! Men! Men! are thy Works!” within the scene, a declaration that foregrounds human agency and moral fortitude as the source of enduring achievement, aligning the biblical episode with his broader contemplations on the power of the individual.

Technique & Style

Blake began with a graphite sketch, then delineated forms in fine pen and ink before applying translucent watercolor washes that soften the outlines and lend a dreamlike atmosphere. The palette remains muted, allowing the delicate tonal shifts to suggest clouds, moonlight, and the fleece of the sheep, while the precise line work retains the artist’s characteristic visionary clarity.

History & Provenance

The drawing belongs to the later phase of Blake’s career, a period when his contributions to Romantic visual culture were still largely unrecognized. Produced after his brief residence in Felpham, the piece reflects his mature symbolic language. It entered public collections in the early twentieth century, where it has been cited as an example of Blake’s integration of poetic narrative and visual invention.