Robert Blair's poem belongs to the school of graveyard poetry in which the theme of death was used as a motif for moral instruction. It was first published in 1743 and by 1798 it had reached its forty-ninth edition. Blake was originally commissioned by Robert Cromek to design and engrave the illustrations to this volume but the task of engraving was soon given to Louis Schiavonetti, a popular professional engraver. Blake, furious at being cheated, dubbed his replacement 'Assassinetti' and called Cromek 'A petty, Sneaking Knave' who 'loves the Art but 'tis the Art to Cheat'. Cromek paid Blake 20 guineas for the twelve designs while Schiavonetti could command a fee of up to 60 guineas for engraving a single plate.