The watercolors we show today present something quite disturbing – a cosmic war between good and evil. Victory or defeat is the fate of mankind. This is how the romantic poet and artist William Blake imagined the scenes in Revelation. The final verse of this New Testament contains a series of warnings to Christians to keep and protect their faith, and then involves a series of parables showing the consequences of spiritual betrayal. Blake’s “The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed in the Sun” presents the following description: “There was a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his head,” and a woman clothed with the sun and the moon. At her feet is a crown of twelve stars on her head.” The dragon is the incarnation of Satan. His mission was to take revenge on the woman who gave birth to a believer in God who spread the Christian faith.
The earth will split open and swallow water, and the frustrated dragon will fly off against the seed of the woman, the followers of God. For Blake, no matter how dire the circumstances, spiritual strength—purity and kindness represented by women—always prevailed.
This artwork is ideal for Mondays. have a good time!
Side note: You should definitely check out more of Blake’s biblical watercolors ! They present the viewer with a primitive vision of the Christian world.
P.S. Today is the anniversary of the lost socks! Let’s pay homage to all the socks that are no longer with us, and come check out and shop the new Art of the Day socks too. 🙂 Use code LOSTSOCK for 20% off.
43.7 x 34.8 cm
Symbolism
National Gallery of Art
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