William Blake Biography

Born: November 28, 1757, in London, England

Died: August 12, 1827, in London, England

  

William Blake was an English visionary, poet, painter, and engraver. He

hand-illustrated many of his own works. With original thought and creativity,

he created a simple and emotionally direct mode of thought and expression.

However, he was largely disregarded during his own time and died in

poverty.

 

Blake was the second son of five children of James Blake, a merchant of

hosiery. James, fearing that his son would be whipped because of his fiery

temper, did not send William to school. Instead, he was taught at home,

where he became well-read in philosophy.

 

At an early age, Blake began having visions which became the inspiration for

his work. He saw God's head at the window and was seized by a fit of

screaming. He insisted that he saw angels as he was walking. Once, he told

his parents that he'd met the prophet Ezekiel under a tree.

 

Blake had the ambition and talent to be an artist. At the age of 10, he was

enrolled at Henry Pars' drawing school. A few years later, he had published

Poetical Sketches. His writing shows a strong influence from Jakob

Boehme, a German mystic, and the philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg.

 

At fourteen, Blake studied engraving as an apprentice to James Basire.

Seven years later, he was a well-respected and successful engraver. He

briefly studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, but he withdrew

because of conflicts with his instructors. In 1784, he established a print

shop.

 

In 1781, Blake was jilted by Polly Wood. He soon fell in love with Catherine

Boucher and they married in 1782. He taught Catherine to read, write, and

paint. In turn, she assisted him in publishing and supported him through

periods of visionary inspiration that often lasted for several hours.

 

Blake perfected a printing process, called illuminated printing, for the

publication of his most popular work, Songs of Innocence in 1789. This

optimistic work uses childhood to represent Heaven. Five years later,

disillusioned with the possibility of human perfection, he published Songs of

Experience. Together, these works represent two contrary states of the

human soul. True innocence is not possible without experience.

  

In 1800, he met William Hayley, with whom he formed a partnership to

illustrate Life of Cowper. He moved from London to Felpham. After the

arrangement failed three years later, he returned to London. However, the

business he left was gone as well as the money.

 

After a few some unsuccessful shows in London, he became a recluse. He

was believed to be crazy, but his work, which broke tradition with the fashion

of the time, attracted younger artists. During his lifetime, he was only fully

appreciated by fellow artists, many of whom commissioned works from the

impoverished Blake. It was only after his death that he emerged as one of

the most respected English artists of his time.