William Blake || English poet || Biography of William Blake

Summary

William Blake, born in 1757 London, was a visionary poet, painter, and printmaker. Self-taught, he pursued engraving and poetry, creating illuminated works with his wife, Catherine. Blake's art and writings, including 'Songs of Innocence' and 'Songs of Experience,' were deeply imaginative and critical of societal norms. He befriended radicals and resisted neoclassical standards, expressing political dissent and spiritual exploration. Despite facing criticism, his unique artistic legacy endures.

Takeaways

• 🎨 William Blake was born in London in 1757 and showed early interest in painting.
• 🏡 His parents recognized his uniqueness and supported his artistic inclinations.
• 📚 He learned to read and write at home and began writing poetry at the age of 12.
• 🖋️ Blake apprenticed as an engraver at 14 due to the high cost of art school.
• 🏰 His apprenticeship involved working on the tombs at Westminster Abbey, influencing his gothic style.
• 💍 He married Catherine Boucher, who he taught to read, write, and assist in his work.
• 🖨️ Blake opened a print shop with a friend in 1784, but it failed within a few years.
• 📚 He began teaching his brother Robert, who died in 1787, an event that deeply affected Blake.
• 🌟 Blake claimed his brother's spirit taught him a new printing method in a dream.
• 📜 His first printed work was a collection of apprentice verse, and he published 'Songs of Innocence' in 1789.
• 🌐 Blake was a non-conformist who associated with radical philosophers and favored imagination over reason.
• 📚 He was self-taught in multiple languages to read classical literature in their original form.
• 🖼️ His visionary epics, written and etched between 1804 and 1820, had no standard plot or characters.
• 🏞️ Blake lived and worked in Felpham under patronage and had significant spiritual experiences there.
• 👀 His paintings received mixed reviews, with some considering him insane.
• 🏠 He spent his last years at Fountain Court, off the Strand, and died in 1827.

Q & A

When and where was William Blake born?

William Blake was born on November 28, 1757, in London.

What was unique about Blake's early education?

Blake's parents recognized his differences and did not push him to attend traditional school. Instead, he learned to read and write at home.

At what age did Blake begin showing interest in painting?

Blake exhibited an interest in becoming a painter when he was 10 years old.

Why did Blake apprentice with an engraver instead of attending art school?

Art school was too expensive, so Blake apprenticed with an engraver at the age of 14.

What significant exposure did Blake get during his apprenticeship?

During his apprenticeship, Blake was exposed to a range of Gothic forms at Westminster Abbey, which inspired him throughout his career.

Who did Blake marry and what was her background?

Blake married Catherine Boucher, an initially illiterate woman whom he taught to read, write, and assist in his printing work.

What was the outcome of Blake's partnership with James Parker in 1784?

Blake opened a print shop with James Parker in 1784, but it collapsed within a few years.

How did Blake's brother Robert influence his work?

After Robert's death, Blake claimed that his brother's spirit taught him how to print 'Songs of Innocence' and other illuminated works in a dream.

What were the themes of Blake's most popular collection, 'Songs of Innocence'?

Blake's 'Songs of Innocence', published in 1789, condemned war, oppression, and King George III's treatment of the American colonies.

Which philosophers did Blake associate with, and what did they represent?

Blake was a non-conformist who associated with Thomas Paine and Mary Wollstonecraft, two prominent radical philosophers of his time.

What were the titles of some of Blake's works that expressed resistance to the English monarchy and social injustice?

Blake's works such as 'The French Revolution', 'America a Prophecy', 'Visions of the Daughters of Albion', and 'Europe a Prophecy' expressed his resistance to the English monarchy and 18th-century political and social injustice.

What was unique about the structure of Blake's visionary epics written between 1804 and 1820?

Blake's visionary epics like 'Milton', 'Vala', 'The Four Zoas', and 'Jerusalem' did not follow standard plot, characters, rhyme, or meter, and they imagined a new form of innocence where the human soul triumphs over logic.

How were Blake's paintings received when displayed at the Royal Academy and his brother's residence?

Reactions to Blake's paintings were mixed; some visitors appreciated his creativity, while others thought the paintings were dreadful, and a few even called him insane.