Drawing King Sebert (Westminster Abbey)
Object number
LDSAL2025.37.1
Artist/Designer/Maker
Basire, James
Blake, William - Attributed to
Blake, William - Attributed to
Production date
c.1773
Material
paper
watercolour
gold leaf
ink
watercolour
gold leaf
ink
Technique
Drawing
Materials and techniques note
Watercolour with pen & ink and gold leaf on paper
Dimensions
height: 400mm
width: 260mm
width: 260mm
Location
Burlington House -
Content description
Watercolour & gold leaf drawing showing the monument of King Sebert in Westminster Abbey. Mounted together with the drawing of King Henry III's sepulchral monument.
Inscriptions
Inscription content
Basire. del.
Inscription content
Figure supposed to be that of King Sebert on the North front of his Tomb. Westmin. Abbey vidi Vetust. Mon. Vol. II. p. 33.
Inscription content
II.
References
Reference (free text)
Mark Crosby, "'Unentangled in the intricate windings of modern practice': William Blake’s Apprentice Copperplates and Engravings", Blake: An Illustrated Quarterly, Vol. 58 no. 3: Winter 2024–25
Watercolour & gold leaf drawing showing the monument of King Sebert in Westminster Abbey
This watercolour depicts the sepulchral monument of King Sebert in the North front of his tomb in Westminster Abbey. King Sebert is said to have founded a monastery in London dedicated to St Peter at the site of the present Westminster Abbey. During his apprenticeship to the Society’s engraver, James Basire, William Blake was sent to old buildings and monuments to make drawings, particularly Westminster Abbey. Blake’s experience copying the Gothic monumental effigies had a profound influence on his later aesthetic.
Although this drawing and the others in our collection are signed by Basire, their linear style suggests that Blake executed them during his apprenticeship and then had them signed by his master, as was common practice. As an apprentice to Basire, Blake learnt the techniques necessary to become a copy engraver. This would have included using engraving and etching tools, preparing copper plates, learning mirror writing, inking plates, preparing paper for printing, and operating copperplate-rolling presses.
Although this drawing and the others in our collection are signed by Basire, their linear style suggests that Blake executed them during his apprenticeship and then had them signed by his master, as was common practice. As an apprentice to Basire, Blake learnt the techniques necessary to become a copy engraver. This would have included using engraving and etching tools, preparing copper plates, learning mirror writing, inking plates, preparing paper for printing, and operating copperplate-rolling presses.