90. 1808.—*Nine Designs from 'Paradise Lost.' [Butts.]
This is a marvellously fine series: Blake is here king of all his powers of design, draughtsmanship, conception, spiritual meaning and impression. The colour is throughout good, often splendid; the execution accurate and sustained; the style of form grand, sweeping, and tense. This series (belonging to Mr. J. C. Strange) would of itself suffice to rank Blake among the heroes of the art.
(a) *The Casting of the Rebel Angels into Hell. Book VI.
A great example of energetic design; the devils hurled down with huge velocity, and a Michelangelo-like power of action. The Son of God, in a disc of pale crimson flame, draws His bow against them, the shaft of the arrow being imagined, not represented. The central demon is Satan; next him falls one with a mapped-out forehead, the representative of apostate intellect, presumably Beelzebub; the flames of hell reach already above them. The angels around Christ are not equal to the rest of the subject.
(b) *The Creation of Eve. Book VIII.
Very spiritual and sculpturesque, without much colour. Adam lies at full length on a natural carpet of leaves, a sort of invented foliaceous form, the like of which, modified according to the purpose, appears in other designs. At the bidding of the Son of God, as Creator, Eve floats up from Adam's side; the crescent moon above her in a deep, dusky sky. The evening flowers are shut; the trees seem bound in slumber.
(c) *'Father, Thy word is passed, Man shall find grace.' Book III.
The Son stands as intercessor before God the Father; four youthful angels hover with downward sway, bearing crowns. The whole of the celestial group is rather in grisaille than in colour. Satan, armed with shield and spear, floats below, subjugated, but unextinguished in rebellion.
(d) *Satan watching the Endearments of Adam and Eve. Book IV.
Very grand in the lines of the seated figures of Adam and Eve. Satan, above the floral bower which over-arches them, holds the serpent an amazingly subtle, prismatic-hued serpent—which seems in horrid council with him, draining his vitals. Satan has a languid, almost 'sentimental' air, yet very terrible. The sun sets to the right, while the stars and moon are in the opposite space of nightly sky. See No. 83.
(e) *Satan, as a Toad, haunting the Dreams of Eve. Book IV.
The natural couch upon which Adam and Eve lie (see b above) is curious; a mass of rounded forms, simulating shut roses, but unfortunately solid-looking, like peaches. Two angels float above, with small javelins.
(f) *Raphael and Adam in conversation, Eve ministering to them. Book V.
A most beautiful Eve (as frequently the case with Blake), exactly realizing the high ideal naked and not ashamed.'
