Page:Life of William Blake, Gilchrist.djvu/359

 CHAPTER XXVII.

YEARS OF DEEPENING NEGLECT. 1810— 1817. [. 53—60.]

mentioned that Blake's Canterbury Pilgrimage (the fresco) was bought by Mr. Butts. Among the drawings executed, at this period, for the same constant patron, was a grandly conceived scene from the apocalyptic vision, the Whore of Babylon:—a colossal, sitting figure, around whose head a wreath of figures issues from the golden cup of Abominations; below, is gathered a group of kings and other arch offenders. This drawing (dated 1S09) formed one in the numerous collection of Blake's works sold at Sotheby's by Mr. Butts' son, in 1852, and is now in the British Museum Print Room. There, also, two other drawings, and a large, though not complete, collection of Blake's illustrated books are now accessible to the public; thanks to the well-directed zeal of the late Keeper, Mr. Carpenter.

In these years, more than one of Blake's old friends had dropped away. In December 1809 died, of asthma, Fuseli's ancient crony, Johnson, who had more than once extended to Blake what little countenance his hampered position, as a bookseller who must live to please, allowed. In March 1810 the friendly miniature painter, Ozias Humphrey, died. Hayley, as we foretold, lost sight of Blake. Mr. Butts, steady customer as he was, had already a house full of his works.

December 26, 1811, is the engraver's date affixed to a small