© THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM / ART RESOURCE, NY
Do you recognize this portion of an illustration of a famous biblical scene?
1. Ascension of Elijah
by Juan de Valdés Leal
2. The Last Judgment
by Hans Memling
3. Ascension of Christ
by Gregorio Lopez
4. Transfiguration of Christ
by Raphael
5. Jacob’s Ladder
by William Blake
© THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM / ART RESOURCE, NY
Answer: (5) Jacob’s Ladder
Using pen and gray ink and watercolor, William Blake (1757–1827) prepared this illustration, known as Jacob’s Ladder or Jacob’s Dream, for Thomas Butts, a senior official in Britain’s civil service. In the foreground, the biblical patriarch Jacob lies dreaming (Genesis 28). Behind him rises the vision from his dream, here imagined as a spiral staircase ascending through the starry night sky to the golden rays above. At the foot of the staircase stand three women carrying trays and urns, and other figures are moving up and down the stairs.
This painting is one of about 80 biblical works commissioned by Butts, which Blake produced over the course of almost a decade at the start of the 19th century. The Bible was an important influence on Blake’s artistic career, and this collection represents the bulk of his watercolor illustrations. His depictions of scenes from the Hebrew Bible explore the interaction between the human and the divine. His New Testament scenes mostly revolve around the life of Jesus, with a handful of scenes from outside the Gospels. Revelation emerges as a key theme, with scenes like Jacob’s Ladder and the New Testament Conversion of Saul holding prominent place in the collection. A number of illustrations from the Book of Revelation further extend this theme into the “apocalyptic sublime.”
Do you recognize this portion of an illustration of a famous biblical scene? 1. Ascension of Elijah by Juan de Valdés Leal 2. The Last Judgment by Hans Memling 3. Ascension of Christ by Gregorio Lopez 4. Transfiguration of Christ by Raphael 5. Jacob’s Ladder by William Blake Answer: (5) Jacob’s Ladder Using pen and gray ink and watercolor, William Blake (1757–1827) prepared this illustration, known as Jacob’s Ladder or Jacob’s Dream, for Thomas Butts, a senior official in Britain’s civil service. In the foreground, the biblical patriarch Jacob lies dreaming (Genesis 28). Behind him rises the vision from his dream, here imagined as a spiral […]
