This engraving followed Blake's painting of the subject which he exhibited in 1809. At the same time he announced his intention to produce an engraving 'similar to those original plates of Albert Durer ... and the old original engravers'. Its style is deliberately old fashioned. Blake believed that Chaucer's characters represented universal types rather than individuals and he depicted them accordingly. Blake's Chaucer designs were the subject of an acrimonious falling out with his patron Robert Cromek and the artist Thomas Stothard. Stothard had also illustrated Chaucer and was accused by Blake of artistic theft.