Artwork
The Pastorals of Virgil, Eclogue I: The Blasted Tree
The Pastorals of Virgil, Eclogue I: The Blasted Tree is a print by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1821 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Blasted Tree is a wood engraving by William Blake, created for Dr. Robert John Thornton's edition of Virgil's Pastorals, a collection of Latin poems.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a lightning-split tree, two shepherds conversing beneath it, and grazing sheep in the distance, illustrating Virgil's Eclogue I in a rural setting.
Technique & Style
Blake's use of wood engraving, a technique he employed only for this project, is characterized by rough, scratchy lines and a 'white on black' approach, achieved by cutting away from the woodblock to create lighter areas.
Context
The Pastorals of Virgil was a popular schoolbook used to teach Latin, featuring translations of Virgil's poems that explored various themes against a rural backdrop.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
