The Estate of William Blake

Drawn from the extraordinary collection of Sir John Soane's Museum, London, this new limited edition print revives a rare book illustration by the forefather of British Romanticism, William Blake.

Night the First is part of a triptych of limited edition prints based on Blake's illustrated title pages for Edward Young's celebrated 18th-century poem, The Complaint, and the Consolation. While he created over 500 watercolour designs for the project, only 43 were engraved for the 1797 edition. Now, just 28 hand-coloured copies are known to exist, including a copy held at Sir John Soane's Museum. These detailed pieces are considered defining masterpieces of Blake's early work.

Each edition is authenticated with a debossed Museum stamp and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Will Gompertz, Deborah Loeb Brice Director, Sir John Soane’s Museum.

By collecting this work, supporters directly contribute to Sir John Soane's Museum – the architect's former London home, where his collection remains displayed exactly as he left it on his death in 1837.