Page:Life of William Blake, Gilchrist.djvu/400

 Grave, in 1805; still loftier in theme, nobler in achievement; most original and characteristic of all his productions. This set of drawings to Job has passed from Mr. Butts' son into the possession of Lord Houghton.

It is to the credit of the Royal Academy that, at this conjuncture, Blake, in the year 1822, received from its funds a donation of £25. Collins and Abraham Cooper recommended him for the grant; Baily and Rd. Bone were the movers and seconders of the vote according it. The Forty of that day, as the testimonial in favour of the Grave showed, numbered many who could recognise Blake's high, artistic genius.

With no remaining patrons for his design, few to employ him as an engraver, Blake, in age, was on the verge of want. Grim poverty had, throughout life, stared him in the face. Throughout life he had calmly looked back into her eyes. For him she had no terrors. He would have been in actual want but for one friend, himself an artist, himself not overburthened, at that time, with the gifts of Fortune; who had, as other rising artists have—but in 1823 it was a still tougher struggle than in 1860—to toil hard for himself and family at often ungenial task-work. The drawings of Job had been borrowed from Mr. Butts to be shown to such as might seem likely to prove employers. From Mr. Linnell alone they drew a commission. He engaged Blake to execute and engrave a duplicate set. The agreement, recorded in writing in a business-like way, bears date 25th March, 1823. It was such an one as Blake had never set hand to before, nor could have obtained in any other quarter. Blake was to receive £100 for the designs and copyright, to be paid from time to time; and another £100 out of the profits. No profits were realised by the engravings, their sale hardly covering expenses. But as the designs and stock of engravings remained with the purchaser, Mr. Linnell subsequently paid over, from time to time, £50 more, making a total of £150,—the largest sum Blake had ever received for any one series. The drawings, the remainder of engravings and