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Portland Vase Engraving by William Blake |
William Blake had the good fortune to
become involved in engraving images of the Portland Vase to
appear in Erasmus Darwin's book The Botanic Garden. Joseph
Johnson was the publisher for whom Blake did numerous
engravings after he completed his apprenticeship. A Unitarian,
Johnson like Blake "had a Dissenter's sympathies with liberal and
political causes." The industrialist Josiah Wedgwood and the
scientist Erasmus Darwin took a profound interest in the first
century Roman Cameo glass Vase. Wedgwood was interested in the
craftsmanship of the vase which he hoped to copy in his china
manufacturing factory. Darwin, like many others wished to
determine what the figures on the vase represented. The beauty of
the vase as a work of art and Darwin's interpretation of the
images as representing the Eleusinian Mysteries would have fascinated
Blake.
In 1779 the vase had recently been brought to
England
and acquired by Duke of Portland. Josiah Wedgwood had the use of
the vase for study and copying. Through Johnson, Blake was engaged
to engrave four images for publication in Darwin's book. In
Johnson's close circle of associates was a group of like-minded men. They
were liberal, dissenters, and innovators who applied their talents to
understanding the methods and meaning of the enigmatic piece of ancient
glassware which was suddenly available for appreciation and study in
England.
This diverse group of men were drawn together to explore the secrets of the vase:
Joseph Johnson - Publisher
Henry Fuselli - Artist
John Flaxman - Sculptor
Josiah Wedgwood - Industrialist
Erasmus Darwin - Scientist - Author
William Blake - Poet - Engraver.
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