NAILED TO THE CROSS

Inscriptions from Blake Archive

“INRI” (on the wood above Christ’s head) stands for “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum” (“Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews”).

Morgan Museum

Christ Nailed to the Cross: The Third Hour

This image was shown at the Morgan Museum in the exhibition William Blake's World: "A New Heaven Is Begun". A comment on the picture stated "This highly finished watercolor is one of several drawings Blake made to depict the Passion of Christ for Thomas Butts's 1799 commission to illustrate the Bible. The Passion cycle as a whole is distinguished by the cumulative emotional power derived from the repetition of Christ's form at the center of each sheet." 

To a large extent William and Catherine survived on commissions from Thomas Butts, an ordinary man with an extraordinary commitment to supporting the artistic creations of William Blake. 

On Page 86 of William Blake, Tate Exhibition, Introduction by Martin Butlin, is a statement about the Biblical Paintings which Thomas Butts commissioned from William Blake:

"The small tempera paintings of Biblical subjects were followed by an even larger number of Biblical subjects painted in watercolor, also painted for Butts, numbering over eighty in all. Some we dated 1800 while others were dated or documented 1803 and 1805, a few dated 1806 and 1809, seem to be afterthoughts, signed in a different form..."

Blake was interpreting the passages rather than illustrating the incidents that he pictured. In Christ Nailed to the Cross Blake included details from the Biblical accounts and added reactions of the people involved. First we notice that Jesus does not resist the procedure which would take his life. His facial expression is of calm and compassion rather than of fear and hatred. Although the nails have not yet been driven into his hands and feet, he accepts his position with humble acquiescence.

Above his head have been placed the words which led to his conviction - King of the Jews. The Roman government could not recognize another king besides Caesar. 

Blake included the chief priest holding the sign which Pilate ordered be placed on the cross. The sign displays Pilate's ironic words and not the words which the priests demanded which would have subjected Jesus to the accusation of blasphemy. 

The first of the people who surround the cross may represent the crowd who wanted a spectacle; the second the religious authorities to whom Jesus was a threat; the third may represent some Jews who were willing to go along with the majority; and finally we observe the supporters of Jesus who were afraid to speak up. Only a couple of people seem visibly troubled about what they saw happening. 

Mark 15

[20] And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
[21] And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
[22] And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
[23] And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
[24] And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
[25] And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
[26] And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

John 18

[29] Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
[30] They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
[31] Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
[32] That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
[33] Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
[34] Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
[35] Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
[36] Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
[37] Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
[38] Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
[39] But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
[40] Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

John 19

[19] And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
[20] This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
[21] Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
[22] Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

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Notes to The Everlasting Gospel, Page 3, (E 876)

 "It was when Jesus said to Me
     Thy Sins are all forgiven thee
     The Christian trumpets loud proclaim
     Thro all the World in Jesus name
     Mutual forgiveness of each Vice
     And oped the Gates of Paradise
     The Moral Virtues in Great fear
     Formed the Cross & Nails & Spear
     And the Accuser standing by
     Cried out Crucify Crucify
     Our Moral Virtues neer can be
     Nor Warlike pomp & Majesty
     For Moral Virtues all begin
     In the Accusations of Sin"