Who painted The Book of Job: Pl. 1, Thus did Job continually?

The Book of Job: Pl. 1, Thus did Job continually was painted by William Blake in 1825.

Where can I see The Book of Job: Pl. 1, Thus did Job continually?

The Book of Job: Pl. 1, Thus did Job continually is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Book of Job: Pl. 1, Thus did Job continually?

The Book of Job: Pl. 1, Thus did Job continually is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Book of Job: Pl. 1, Thus did Job continually

William Blake , 1825

The Book of Job: Pl. 1, Thus did Job continually is a work on paper by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1825 print by William Blake is the first in a series illustrating the biblical Book of Job. Created in London, it exemplifies Blake's unique style and his exploration of visionary themes.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a nocturnal scene from the Book of Job, showing the titular figure kneeling with an open book, surrounded by praying or attentive individuals, under a celestial glow. The composition conveys a sense of solemn, devout contemplation, highlighting Job's character as 'perfect and upright'.

Technique & Style

Rendered in Blake's distinctive graphic style, the engraving features a contrast between the serene, detailed grouping of figures and the expressive, symbolic rendering of light and clouds above, characteristic of his imaginative and symbolically dense approach.

History & Provenance

Produced in London, this work reflects Blake's lifelong engagement with prophetic and visionary subjects. Though created outside the mainstream during his lifetime, it is now recognized as a key part of Romantic-era visual culture.

Context

Part of a broader series on the Book of Job, this print sits within Blake's body of work that explores religious and mystical themes through innovative, personal visual language.

Legacy

This engraving, along with Blake's other works, has come to be central to the understanding of Romantic-era art, influencing perceptions of visionary and symbolic expression in 19th-century British art.