St. Matthew

tempera on canvasWilliam Blake (British, 1757–1827)/1799

Description

The energy and awe with which the evangelist Saint Matthew responds to the angel presenting the divinely inspired text echoes William Blake’s attitude toward artistic inspiration. From childhood Blake experienced visions that are reflected in the otherworldliness of his work. While Blake was not embraced by the fine art establishment, a small group of patrons believed in his genius and commissioned works in which his unusual visions had free rein.

Provenance

Thomas Butts [1757 - 1845], London, by descent to his son, Thomas Butts, Jr.; Thomas Butts, Jr. [died 1862], London; William Michael Rossetti [1829-1919], London; William Bell Scott [1811-1890], consigned to sale at Sotheby's, London; (Sotheby's, London, July 14, 1892, no. 238, sold to Quaritch); (Quaritch, sold to E.H. van Ingen for Mrs. William Emerson); Mrs. William Emerson, consigned to sale at Sotheby's, London; (Sotheby's London, May 19, 1958, no.12, bought by Agnew for Lady Melchett); Lady Melchett [1928-], sold at Christie's, London; (Christie's London, November 9, 1971, no. 71, bought by Piccadilly Gallery); (Piccadilly Gallery, London, sold to Galleria Galatea); (Galleria Galatea, Turin, sold to private collector, Milan); private collector, Milan; (Ben Elwes Fine Art, London, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Dimensions

38.5 × 26.5 cm

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Movement / Period

European Painting and Sculpture

Accession No

2017.4

Official Citations

[The Cleveland Museum of Art Official Record][Full Resolution Image]

Curatorial Affinity Stream

Continuing the Universe of William Blake (British, 1757–1827)

European Painting and Sculpture • England • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries

Continuous Discovery