Gates of Hell by, Richard Westall, 1794

Original stipple engraving of "the life of milton: in three parts. To which are added, conjectures on the origin of paradise lost: with an appendix. By william hayley, esq. " vol. 1. By hayley, william (1745-1820). Method stipple engraving artist jean-pierre simon after richard westall published publish'd june 4. 1794, by j. &j. Boydell, & g. Nicol, shakspeare gallery pall mall, & cheapside. Dimensions image 224 x 157 mm, sheet 380 x 275 mm notes an illustration of book 2, line 752 of milton's paradise lost, from john and josiah boydell's the poetical works of john milton (1794-1797). Satan, having resolved to take his new war to earth, has approached the gates of hell, whose guardians are sin and death. After death is revealed to be his own son through an incestuous union with his daughter sin, satan is forced to recall the moment of sin's creation, bursting forth 'shining heav'nly fair' and fully armed from his head. Satan's expression conveys not only the physical pain of sin's birth, but also the horror of realisation of his actions. The publication of boydell's milton followed the success of his shakespeare gallery, and included 28 plates by richard westall after works by henry fuseli. Fuseli, one of the shakespeare gallery's key contributors, had been inspired by boydell's success, subsequently painting 40 large-scale scenes from paradise lost that he intended to form the core of his own 'milton gallery'. Richard westall ra (2nd january 1765 - 4th december 1836) was a british painter, illustrator, printmaker, and drawing master, best known for his portraits of lord byron, and his work as a painter for john boydell's shakespeare gallery, and henry fuseli's failed milton gallery. Jean pierre simon (c. 1750 - c. 1810) was an anglo-french stipple engraver. Date: 1794.