Let it be added that Mr. Kirkup thought this the finest of Blake's works, remembering to the last, reports Mr. Swinburne, 'the fury and splendour of energy there contrasted with the serene ardour of simply beautiful courage, the violent life of the design, and the fierce distance of fluctuating battle.'
In treacherous Cromek's despite, Blake had resolved to engrave, as well as exhibit, the Pilgrimage. On opening his exhibition, he issued a printed prospectus of his intended engraving, almost as curious as the Catalogue. It is a literary composition which halts between the monologue of a selftaught enthusiast and the circular of a competing tradesman. Observe how he girds, parenthetically, at Cromek and Schiavonetti. Date, May 15th, 1809.
BLAKE'S CHAUCER,
THE CANTERBURY PILGRIMS.
The Fresco Picture,
Representing Chaucer's Characters, painted by
WILLIAM BLAKE,
As it is now submitted to the Public.
The Designer proposes to engrave [it] in a correct and finished line manner of engraving, similar to those original copper-plates of Albert Dürer, Lucas von Leyden, Aldegrave, and the old original engravers, who were great masters in painting and designing; whose method, alone, can delineate Character as it is in this Picture, where all the lineaments are distinct.
It is hoped that the Painter will be allowed by the public (notwithstanding artfully disseminated insinuations to the contrary) to be better able than any other to keep his own characters and expressions; having had sufficient evidence in the works of our own Hogarth, that no other artist can reach the original spirit so well as the Painter himself,
