Detail View: Rylands Collection: Messengers Tell Job of His Misfortunes
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Image Number:
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JRL1215635
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Reference Number:
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R44332
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Link to Catalogue:
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Image Title:
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Messengers Tell Job of His Misfortunes
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Parent Work Title:
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Illustrations of the Book of Job
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Creator:
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Blake, William, 1757-1827
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Creator Role:
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Illustrator
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Date Created:
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1825
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Publication Details:
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London: Published by William Blake
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Page/Sheet:
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4
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Image Sequence Number:
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004
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Description:
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Single line engraving in black ink. Here Job and his wife appear in a bleak landscape where only shreds of their former prosperity survive. The once illuminated cathedral monument is now shrouded by the dark setting and physically hemmed in from all directions. The tree that was the centre-piece of the former harmony and well-being is now cut off at the edge of the scene and frames a pair of monoliths that might symbolise a new force; a cult-like, anti-religion that now dominates Job's ecosystem. The figures that appear are three repeated forms that bring Job the terrible news of his family and livestock that is recounted in the text above and below the scene. Job, on hearing of the countless tragedies, appeals to the heavens but to little avail his gaze is met only by the interruption of the anonymous winged demon that perches authoritatively on top of a blank globe in the margin design. From this spectral figure that bears resemblance to Satan in the previous plate emanates clouds of smoke and flames that engulfs Job's visible world.
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Language Code:
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eng-GB
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Subject:
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Bible. Old Testament
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Category of Material:
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Printed
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Sub-Category:
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Illustrated works
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Technique Used:
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Engraving (printing process)
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Medium:
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Ink
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Support:
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Paper
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Item Height:
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204 mm
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Item Width:
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156 mm
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Current Repository:
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The University of Manchester Library, U.K.
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Rights Holder - Image:
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The University of Manchester Library
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Bibliographic Citation:
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Blake, William, 'Illustrations of the Book of Job' (London: published by William Blake, 1825)
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Notes:
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21 leaves of plates. The plate descriptions have been supplied by Simon Spier.
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Date Captured (yyyy-mm-dd):
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2012-03-20
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Multi Page Number:
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65
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Image Creation Technique:
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Digital capture by The University of Manchester Library
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Date Image Added (yyyy-mm):
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2012-07
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Metadata Language:
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eng-GB
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Collection Code:
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Rylands
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