Rare Blake sketches on display

Eight hand-coloured etchings by William Blake (1757-1827) have been acquired for the nation by Tate Britain. The relief-etchings are prints of images Blake created for three of his illuminated books and were inherited by his widow, Catherine, who later gave them to a gentleman called Frederick Tatham. It is then unknown what happened to the works until they were found tucked away in a box of second-hand books purchased at a book sale in the 1970s.

The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, offered them to the Tate as a single group, prompting a campaign to raise the £410,000 need to secure them. The money was provided by Tate Members, The Art Fund and private donations.

Blake’s work is rarely available for purchase and the etchings are particularly powerful works by the visionary artist and poet.

Stephen Deuchar, Director of The Art Fund, said: “These powerful etchings reveal the immense technical skill of William Blake, as well as his legendary imaginative range, and the story behind their discovery makes this acquisition all the more exciting.”

The etchings will now be displayed at Tate Britain from July 2010.