John Linnell (Drawing) William Blake Buy Art Prints Now
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Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on June 19, 2020 / Updated on October 14, 2023
Email: [email protected] / Phone: +44 7429 011000

The John Linnell drawing by William Blake is one of the most recognized art pieces. The John Linnell drawing is currently located in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C, and the image is now in the public domain.

You are always welcome to explore John Linnell's art, among other works from artists influenced by him and those who influenced him. The drawing is created using graphite as the primary medium with overall dimensions of 35.7 x 23.8 cm (14 1/16 x 9 3/8 in.) The credit line is in the Rosenwald Collection, with its access number being 1943.3.9016. The classification of this art piece is in the drawing category.

The drawing is an 1825 piece of art from the known British artist William Blake. The inscription on the painting reads 'by John Linnell, lower right: at Hampstead / Drawn by Mr Blake / from 1825. / intended as The Portrait / of J. Linnell'. This inscription is a clear indication of the vital details of the drawing. It includes the date on which the picture was created, the location, the name of the drawing, and the artist’s name, William Blake.

The John Linnell drawing is one of the essential drawings that William Blake made due to the close relationship they had. Their relationship lasted for decades until Blake's death in 1827, only two years after making the John Linnell drawing. Linnell was Blake's primary patron, and they worked closely with each other to get their art pieces to the markets. Linnell even purchased some of Blake’s works for himself. Blake's drawings played a significant part in support of his life, and the support from Linnell was enough to take him through the years too.

The John Linnell drawing may not be as detailed, but Blake took his time to employ his style in the drawing. It is important to note that Linnell is the one who was known for doing portraits, and so the portrait developed by Blake was no surprise, especially since they were close. In some instances, people may have thought that John Linnell closely influenced Blake's portrait drawings.

All the portrait drawings are similar in style with certain unique elements to show the difference between the two. The two artists introduced each other to different artists who also made Blake's works even more popular. A wide circle of admirers played a considerable part in recognising William Blake's painting over time. Even after his death, this drawing of John Linnell still stands to be unique to him and represents how appreciating each other can leave a mark throughout history.