To the Royal Academy. On Art and Artists. William Blake. 1908. The Poetical Works

William Blake (1757–1827). The Poetical Works. 1908.

On Art and Artists

To the Royal Academy


XVIII A STRANGE erratum in all the editions
Of Sir Joshua Reynolds’ lectures
Should be corrected by the young gentlemen
And the Royal Academy’s directors.

Instead of ‘Michael Angelo,’	5
Read 1 ‘Rembrandt’; for it is fit
To make mere common honesty
In all that he has writ.

Note 1. XVIII 6–8

..… and you will know

That Sir Joshua Reynolds now wished to speak

Of Michael Angelo.

MS. 1st rdg. del.

7 mere common] either sense or MS. 1st rdg. del.
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