The Four and Twenty Elders Casting their Crowns before the Divine Throne

The Four and Twenty Elders Casting their Crowns before the Divine Throne is one of the greatest pencil drawings ever to exist and drawn by the renowned painter William Blake. William Blake is an English poet and painter. He used watercolours on paper to pass a message through art.

Blake created the drawing between 1803 and 1805. Since 1949, The Four and Twenty Elders Casting their Crowns before the Divine Throne was held for a while in the London's Tate gallery. This drawing is a clear hallucination and vision of what happens in the book of revelation, especially chapters 4 and 5. The painting depicted when God's throne was brought forth to saint john, the divine prophet. The scene can be described as a sea of glass that existed before the throne. There were four great beasts and four and twenty elders down on their knees before the throne. They worshipped him that have everlasting life.

The main reason for Blake's drawing was to commission the biblical story for his patron and friend (Thomas Butts). The artwork began around 1800 to fulfil his friend‘s series. William Blake decided to use some stylistic themes, hence using pencil rather than ink and pen. A lot of scholars believe that William Blake started his work precisely in 1803. The Four and Twenty Elders Casting their Crowns before the Divine Throne is considered one of the most vividly described artwork that uses intense colour and displays. The painter arranged the watercolour strategically to ensure different biblical characters and elements are highly organised and symmetrical.

God is believed to be sitting at the centre of his throne. He is portrayed as an ancient being denoted by his white beards and red clothes. He also holds a scroll on his right hand (according to scriptures). The book is on the backside and within and uses seven seals. He has also raised his left hand, symbolising blessings and benediction. There are seven spikes above God's corpse that symbolised the lamb's seven horns. The deity is surrounded by a row of twelve figures with white clads and beards. However, only four white-bearded figures are visible on the panel. The figures on the panel are showing respect and adoration to God by bending toward him.

The Four and Twenty Elders Casting their Crowns before the Divine Throne has many symbols that underpin poetic conceptions. Blake's son bequeathed the art after his death. W. Graham Robertson got the artwork in 1906 for 6,720 euros. The watercolour was actioned after Graham passing away and was assisted by the national art collection fund.