William Blake, 1757–1827.

Biographical note

Poet and painter, born in London, was from earliest youth a seer of visions and a dreamer of dreams, seeing “Ezekiel sitting under a green bough,” and “a tree full of angels at Peckham,” and such he remained to the end of his days. His teeming imagination sought expression both in verse and in drawing, and in his 14th year he was apprenticed to James Basire, an eminent engraver, and thereafter studied at the Royal Academy. Among his chief artistic works were illustrations for Young’s Night Thoughts, Blair’s Grave, “Spiritual Portraits,” and his finest work, “Inventions to the Book of Job,” all distinguished by originality and imagination. In literature his Songs of Innocence appeared in 1789, Songs of Experience in 1794. These books were literally made by Blake and his heaven-provided wife; poems and designs alike being engraved on copper by Blake and bound by Mrs. Blake. In like fashion were produced his mystical books, The Book of Thel [1789], The Marriage of Heaven and Hell [1790], The Gates of Paradise, Visions of the Daughters of Albion, Europe, The Book of Urizen [1794], The Book of Los and The Book of Ahania [1795]. His last books were Jerusalem and Milton. His earlier and shorter pieces, e.g. “The Chimney–Sweeper,” “Holy Thursday,” “The Lamb,” “The Sun-flower,” “The Tiger,” etc., have an exquisite simplicity arising from directness and intensity of feeling — sometimes tender, sometimes sublime — always individual. Latterly he lost himself in clouds of mysticism. A truly pious and loving soul, neglected and misunderstood by the world, but appreciated by an elect few, he led a cheerful and contented life of poverty illumined by visions and celestial inspirations.

[From A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin, 1910]