William Blake
About Me
I was born on Nov. 28 1757 in London, England.Two of my six siblings died while an infant. I am a painter, writer, engraver, and poet. I didn't go to any school until I ten where i attended drawing school. Two years later i gave up on drawing and moved to poetry. When i reached fourteen, I left drawing school because it was getting expense. I became an apprentice of an engraver. Once I ended my seven-year term, I moved on to study at the royal academy, off and on. By 1782, I married an illiterate woman name Catherine Boucher. I taught her how to read and write. She helps me a lot to print my poetry. I do not have any children. In 1784, i set up my own printshop with a friend and former apprentice, James Parker. After a few years, we had to close it down. For the rest of my life, I explored many different careers. After my younger brother got older, I started to teach him how to draw, paint, and engrave. His name was Robert Blake. He became very ill in the winter of 1787, gave up, and died. When he died, I saw his spirit rise up with joy. His spirit still comes to visit me. In a dream, Robert's spirit taught me the printing method that I used in Songs of Innocence. In 1800, i moved to the town of Felpham where i taught myself Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Italian so I could read work in its original language. In 1808, i exhibited some of my paintings in the Royal Acamdemy. A year later, I put some more of my work on exhibit in my brother's James's house.
When people viewed my work, some of them praised it and some called me insane. I have spent my latest years living in poverty. I was comforted by "the Ancients". "The Ancients" is a group of artists with a big friendship. William Blake died in 1827.
Poetry
The Book of Thel (1789)
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1793)
A Prophesy (1793)
Europe: A Prophesy (1794)
Visions of the Daughters of Albion (1793)
The Book of Urizen (1794)
All Religions Are One (1788)
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
America, a Prophecy (1793)
Visions of the Daughters of Albion (1793)
Europe, a Prophecy (1794)
For Children: The Gates of Paradise (1793)
For the Sexes: The Gates of Paradise (1820)
Poetical Sketches (1783)
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
Songs of Experience (1794)
The Song of Los (1795)
The Book of Los (1795)
Songs of Innocence (1789)
The Book of Ahania (1795)
The First Book of Urizen (1794)
There Is No Natural Religion (1788)
and More
Paintings
The Ancient of Days
The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun
The Book of Urizen: The Web of Religion
The Body of Abel Found by Adam and Eve
Satan Inflicting Boils on Job
Nebuchadnezzar
The Blasphemer
Whirlwind of Lovers (Illustration to Dante's Inferno)
Joseph of Arimathea Among the Rocks of Albion
Glad Day
The Skeleton Re-animated
And More
Sources Cited
Information Cited:
Merriman, C.D. “William Blake.” Literature Network. 2006. 30 Oct. 2007 <http://www.online-literature.com/blake/>.
“The William Blake Archive.” The William Blake Archive. 1996-2007. Modern Language Association. 30 Oct. 2007 <http://www.blakearchive.org/blake/main.html>.
“The William Blake Page.” Art of Gail Gastfield. 1994. 30 Oct. 2007 <http://www.gailgastfield.com/Blake.html>.
“William Blake.” Poets.org. 1997-2007. The Academy of American Poets. 30 Oct. 2007 <http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/116>.
Images Cited:
Ancient World. 07 May. 2006. 30 Oct. 2007 <http://www.ancientworlds.net/aworlds_media/ibase_1/>.
“Apocalyptic Theories.” Apocalyptic Theories. 30 Oct. 2007 <http://www.apocalyptic-theories.com/>.
Mitchell, John. “Fine Art Gallery.” ABM-Enterprises. 2000-2007. 30 Oct. 2007 <http://abm-enterprises.net/artgallery.html>.
Whitney, Elizabeth. “English Romanticism.” English Romanticism. 7 Feb. 2000. 30 Oct. 2007 <http://www.uh.edu/engines/romanticism/>.
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