Alexander Pope

William Blake 1757 - 1827

Summary

Painting depicting a right hand profile perspective bust portrait of poet Alexander Pope, looking up, with his head resting on his right hand, surrounded by a scrolling wreath of leaves and flowers. There is a praying figure of Heloise kneeling in a chapel on the right. There is also a standing female figure beneath a crescent moon on the left. The wreath and other foliage (such as the palm to the left) are depicted in dark green. The remainder of the painting is in light ochre or sepia tones.

Display Label

Bottom left: Alexander Pope Pope was one of Hayley’s favourite writers and one of Blake’s least favourite. As their relationship soured, Hayley’s admiration for Pope probably intensified Blake’s dislike of his work. The kneeling figure is Eloisa, praying in her cell, from Pope’s poem Eloisa and Abelard. Bottom right: Thomas Otway Otway was a well-regarded playwright in 1800. His masterwork was the play Venice Preserved. An imaginary view of Venice is on the left, and two characters from the play are on the right: Jaffier attempting to stab Belvidera. Purchased 1885.8 and 1885.7