Artwork preview

"And Saul Said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with Thee" [recto]

William Blake

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a sketch featuring three figures in full-body view. The central figure is standing with one arm raised high and the other resting by his side. He has curly hair and a beard, with minimal facial details, wearing a draped garment. To his left stands another figure, also standing, with long hair and a large beard, more pronounced facial features, and a long robe. On the right side is another standing figure with shorter hair and draped fabric, revealing most of the legs and arms. In the background, there are lightly sketched heads and shoulders of additional figures. The composition is against a plain backdrop, focusing on the figures without environmental details.

Artwork Details

Date
c. 1780/1785
Medium
pen and ink over graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
4969 × 3498 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette