Rev Robert Blair (17 April 1699 – 4 February 1746) was a Scottish

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...

. His fame rests upon his poem ''

The Grave The Grave may refer to: * ''The Grave'' (TV series), an Israeli science fiction TV show. * "The Grave" (''The Twilight Zone''), a 1961 episode of ''The Twilight Zone'' * ''The Grave'' (1996 film), a thriller film * ''The Grave'' (2020 film), a film ...

'', which, in a later printing was illustrated by

William Blake William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his life, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual art of the Romantic Age. ...

Biography

He was the eldest son of the Rev. Robert Blair, one of the king's chaplains, and was born at

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. He was educated at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

and in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, and in 1731 was appointed minister of

Athelstaneford Athelstaneford () is a village in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies almost 6 kilometres (3.5 mi) north-east of the market town of Haddington and about 28 kilometres (17 mi) east of Edinburgh. Battle of Athelstaneford According to popul ...

East Lothian East Lothian (; sco, East Lowden; gd, Lodainn an Ear) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921. In 1975, the histo ...

. In 1738, he married Isabella, daughter of Professor William Law, with whom he had six children. His family's wealth gave him leisure for his favourite pursuits: gardening and the study of English poets. Blair published only three poems. One was a commemoration of his father-in-law and another was a translation. His reputation rests entirely on his third work, ''

'' (1743), which is a poem written in

blank verse Blank verse is poetry written with regular metrical but unrhymed lines, almost always in iambic pentameter. It has been described as "probably the most common and influential form that English poetry has taken since the 16th century", and P ...

on the subject of death and the graveyard. It is much less conventional than its gloomy title might lead one to expect. Its religious subject no doubt contributed to its great popularity, especially in Scotland, where it gave rise to the so-called "graveyard school" of poetry. The poem extends to 767 lines of various merit, in some passages rising to great sublimity, and in others sinking to commonplace. The poem is now best known for the illustrations created by

following a commission from

Robert Cromek Robert Hartley Cromek (1770–1812) was an English engraver, editor, art dealer and entrepreneur who was most active in the early nineteenth century. He is best known for having allegedly cheated William Blake out of the potential profits of his e ...

. Blake's designs were engraved by

Luigi Schiavonetti Luigi Schiavonetti (1 April 1765 – 7 June 1810) was an Italian reproductive engraver and etcher. Life Luigi Schiavonetti was born at Bassano in Venetia. He was the maternal nephew of Teodoro Viero. After having studied art for several ...

, and published in 1808. See the biographical introduction prefixed to Blair's ''Poetical Works'', by Robert Anderson, in his ''Poets of Great Britain'', vol. viii. (1794). The only modern edition of ''The Grave'' is that of Professor James A. Means, which was published in 1973 by the Augustan Reprint Society, Los Angeles.

Notes

References

;Attribution * * * *

External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Blair, Robert 1699 births 1746 deaths 18th-century Scottish poets Alumni of the University of Edinburgh 18th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland writers from Edinburgh People of the Scottish Enlightenment

Biography

See also

Notes

References

External links