Journal on Philology – 1-2`2014 ► Announcements and events
In the town of Nerac (France), an artistic treasure of William Blake (re) discovered by André Furlan
From May 27 to July 6, 2014 in the Castle of Henri IV, Nerac, France, there takes place a final presentation of the work of William Blake "The Beggar's Opera" (opera The Beggar), mixed media engraving with a box containing the manuscript accompanying the work as a secret drawer. From a scenic point of view, this famous box is the centerpiece of the exhibition. In addition, there are 84 macro shots (enlargements of the most significant work, framed size 36cm x 46cm).
"The Beggar's Opera" is a comic opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay in response to the Italian operatic style. The painter and engraver William Hogarth (1697-1764) realized, at the time of the creation of the opera (1728), a series of oils on canvas, because of its great success. A few decades later, in 1788, William Blake took, as his point of origin, one of Hogarth paintings to depict a scene from Act III and he completed a more complex engraved work.
Today, André Furlan, French artist, art historian, independent researcher and French culture Anglophile possesses an original from the unique genius that was and is William Blake. This is an important work in the artistic career of Blake in its originality. Many years were spent studying the subtle differences between this and the Hogarth works.
This work consists of three distinct elements:
- a large engraving of William Blake, representing "The Beggar's Opera," Act III. This is the final engraving.
- Moreover, the work is equipped with a frame – carved wood, gilded with fine gold, its concept being that of a box.
- Finally, and perhaps the most beautiful of this discovery, Furlan has discovered a secret drawer with a key, which contains a manuscript on which Blake noted the signatures and the description of the audience and actors who were present at the time chosen by Hogarth. This complete and accurate description of the audience and actors has never been accurately documented. This is a manuscript of great importance, written in ink and by Blake himself and is a major contribution to the history of art and English history.
For many years, André Furlan has deployed a passionate energy to lift the veil on this important period in the life of Blake and his creations, which have remained shrouded in mystery and hidden in darkness for so long. He has also studied, in great detail, the various components of this work. Today, he is able to answer many of the mysteries surrounding this work and this, one of the most important periods of history and contributions given to us by William Blake.
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