Art, Symbol & Imagination
Thel’s Lament beneath the Branching Title
Large curling letters spread across a blue upper panel while small figures move among delicate branches. The engraved verse below introduces Thel’s withdrawal and her questions about the fading of life. The page unites the opening lament with the lightness and movement of the illuminated heading.
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Citation
William Blake. "Thel’s Lament beneath the Branching Title" [editorial title]. In The Book of Thel, William Blake. Eight-plate digital facsimile assembled from individually catalogued Yale Center for British Art photographs; historical title dated 1789. Google Art Project images via Wikimedia Commons., undated edition, William Blake (historical plates). Source scan leaf 3. Lumitheca. /gallery/image/thel-opening
Source details
Editorial title and description. Source details from the Library catalogue.
Historical source image. Editorial titles and interpretations are identified as such; paper tone and historical marks retained.
Sources
From the book
The Book of ThelWilliam BlakeUndated editionMore from this book
The Book of Thel: Lettering and Entwined Figures
Thel and the Lilly beneath the Willow
Thel Sees the Worm: Section IIIRelated illustrations
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William Blake. Thel’s Lament beneath the Branching Title. The Book of Thel. Scan leaf 3. Lumitheca. https://lumitheca.com/gallery/image/thel-opening