ABSTRACT
The Grave and The Canterbury Pilgrims had been ambitious undertakings. But even more ambitious was a scheme by a small group of engravers among whom Cromek figured prominently. It was the Chalcographic Society, and in 1810 its members attempted to revive the market for highly finished engravings and to elevate the status of engraving in England. The scheme involved finding 170 connoisseurs who would pay 100 guineas for 20 engravings of renowned British paintings executed by members of the Society. Cromek, the Secretary of the Chalcographic Society, was a moving force behind this venture. Blake had strong opinions about this project and expressed them forcefully in his Notebook, the one surviving record of his response.
