Britain's Tate unveils mislaid Blake etchings

[muriel_volestrangler]

Britain's Tate Gallery unveiled Monday eight "powerful" etchings by 18th century writer and artist William Blake, which lay undiscovered for decades before turning up at a second-hand book sale.

The hand-coloured works were inherited by Blake's widow Catherine after his death in 1827, but they later disappeared for decades until they were found tucked inside a railway timetable in a box of books.

"Blake?s work is rarely available for purchase, making a recent discovery like this all the more remarkable," said the Tate, announcing it had bought the pictures for 441,000 pounds (710,000 dollars, 490,000 euros).

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h2jqoi2iSDuOeRiyxK-ondekh7xQ

http://www.spoonfed.co.uk.nyud.net:8080/system/images/2393/default/William_Blake.jpg



William Blake's work is always weird but fascinating, I find.

[Call Me Wesley]

1. Nice!

Thanks for sharing. :hi:

[velvet]

2. god he was good

The tonal range in that last etching makes it so rich, and so crisp. I'm trying for that kind of look in my current (abstract, digital) work, destined for a Black and White show. Man, I could stare at that one all day. Thanks for posting.

[myrna minx]

3. Oh how fascinating. Thanks for posting.

[graywarrior]

4. Freakin' awesome!

[Aristus]

5. Terrific etchings! Blake was an astoundingly good poet, too. His stuff sounded very modern.

He wrote a poem once that had a character called the Purple Tyrant. I adapted the name for a silver-and-black car I once owned. I called it the Silver Tyrant. Blake is a great inspiration...

[UTUSN]

6. Tyger tyger burning BRIGHT - way to GO!1 n/t