William Blake 1757-1827
Blake was the son of a London haberdasher
(or hosier, depending on the source).
At 10, Blake studied at a drawing
school and then entered the famous Royal Academy of Arts (in his teens).
Blake disliked the direction of famous 18th century artist, Joshua Reynolds
(you can see Reynolds work in the Huntington Art gallery). Eventually,
Blake became an apprentice to James Basire, who showed him what he needed
to know for engraving and printing.Blake married Catherine Boucher, who
initially was illiterate, but then learned to read and write and help Blake
with his work. Blake enjoyed moments of material prosperity, but
he was never made filthy rich from all of his work. In the last stage
of his career, he inspired a younger group of writers and artists.
As an engraver and writer, Blake
moved around a great deal in London, and he also lived in the provincial
town of Felpham, on the coast. His patron was William Hayley.
Artists like Blake still very much depended on the patronage system.
Philosophy and conception of
art:
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Uses opposites to convey meaning
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Sees a spiritual world and corporal
world
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Inspired by the Bible but Blake also
departs from it
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Like other Romantics, Blake saw renewal
in apocalypse
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Uses a multiplicity of references (like
his literary inheritors, Eliot and Yeats)
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Valued feeling over reason
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Believed in natural goodness of children
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Expressed idea that modern world is
represssive
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Stressed the importance of imagination
and vision