CATHERINE BLAKE 2

Fitzwilliam Museum
Drawing by Catherine Blake

Information from Fitzwilliam Museum:
Date of drawing circa 1827 — 1831
Said to have been given by Mrs Blake to a friend who sold it c. 1886 to Daniels (a printseller in Mortimer Street, London); bt. by Herbert P. Horne (d. 1916); acquired by E.H. Marsh in 1904, bequeathed 1953; Marsh, Edward Howard

As part of the grieving process after the death of William, Catherine drew this portrait of her husband as she remembered him as a young man. From it we learn of the appearance of young William. From it we see also that Catherine had a remarkable visual memory and considerable artistic skill with the pencil.

In the portrait the penetrating eye of Blake is clearly seen. The brow betrays his active mind which he applied to understanding a troubled world. His mouth reveals his determination to reveal the infinite in all things. His wirey hair indicates his exuberant personality.

After he died Catherine had a strong desire to continue the work that she had done with William. He had tried to preserve his creations in his lifetime by getting them into the hands of people who knew their value. Now it was her responsibility to preserve what remained with her, as best she could. Although it is believed that much was lost through poor decisions, somehow a large quantity of the work remains for the enjoyment and enrichment of those who appreciate it.


In the Halls of Los all that is created through Imagination does not pass away but is permanent, it is part of the Spiritual Reality which endures. 


Jerusalem, Plate 16, (E 161)
"All things acted on Earth are seen in the bright Sculptures of
Los's Halls & every Age renews its powers from these Works
With every pathetic story possible to happen from Hate or
Wayward Love & every sorrow & distress is carved here
Every Affinity of Parents Marriages & Friendships are here
In all their various combinations wrought with wondrous Art
All that can happen to Man in his pilgrimage of seventy years
Such is the Divine Written Law of Horeb & Sinai:
And such the Holy Gospel of Mount Olivet & Calvary:" 

In this letter we read of Catherine working independently of William as she undertook the job of printing the Plates for the Cowper book for Hayley.

Letters, To James Blake, (E 726)

"Felpham Jany 30--1803.
Dear Brother
...
My Wife has undertaken to Print
the whole number of the Plates for Cowpers work which she does to
admiration & being under my own
eye the prints are as fine as the French prints & please every
one. in short I have Got every thing so under my thumb that it is
more profitable that things should be as they are than any other
way, tho not so agreeable because we wish naturally for
friendship in preference to interest.--The Publishers are already
indebted to My Wife Twenty Guineas for work deliverd this is a
small specimen of how we go on. then fear nothing & let my Sister
fear nothing because it appears to me that I am now too old &
have had too much experience to be any longer imposed upon only
illness makes all uncomfortable & this we must prevent by every
means in our power"

When Blake returned to London after his trial for sedition in Chichester he found Catherine ill from the anxiety of being uncertain of the trial's outcome.

 Letters,  (E 740)
"To William Hayley Esqre Felpham
near Chichester, Sussex

London Jany 14. 1804
...
My poor
wife has been near the Gate of Death as was supposed by our kind
& attentive fellow inhabitant. the young & very amiable Mrs
Enoch. who gave my wife all the attention that a daughter could
pay to a mother but my arrival has dispelld the formidable malady
& my dear & good woman again begins to resume her health &
strength--Pray my dear Sir." 

Later in the year Blake wrote to Hayley reporting on Catherine's remarkable 
recovery from rheumatism.

Letters, (E 755)
"[To William Hayley]
[23 October 1804]
Dear Sir
My wife
returns her heartfelt thanks for your kind inquiry concerning her
health.  She is surprisingly recovered.  Electricity is the
wonderful cause; the swelling of her legs and knees is entirely
reduced.  She is very near as free from rheumatism as she was
five years ago, and we have the greatest confidence in her
perfect recovery."