The Whore of Babylon

Drawn by: William Blake

1809

paper; drawn

British Museum

A crowned woman in a red dress sits atop a multi-headed beast. She holds a chalice in her left hand and gestures with her right. Small figures and a chariot are visible at the bottom. The Whore of Babylon; she holding a chalice, from which exudes a stream of naked figures, seated on the back of a monster with several heads, one of the heads devouring one of the smaller figures below. 1809 Pen and black ink and watercolour See D. Petherbridge, 'Witches and Wicked Bodies'. Exhibition catalogue Edinburgh 2013, cat No. 13