Biography of William Blake

Hard-hitting art

28 November 1757 12 August 1827 William Blake, poet, painter, artist, engraver of great talent, is the creator of an innovative technique to complete works of amazing power of imagination, for which she is remembered his great ability transfer in the real world spiritual visions. William Blake was born on 28 November 1757 in London, in Soho. The family of six children is well off; his father James Blake's knitwear trader. William did not attend school: Catherine's mother to take care of his education. The younger Blake shows a precocious talent for art which the father does not hesitate to encourage. At the age of ten, William began schooling by Bill Henry Pars in the Strand. After his studies he starts an apprenticeship as an engraver, making the first experience in the study of one of the most well known artists in his field, William Ryland. William Blake's relationship with master though is confrontational and in 1783 enters another studio, to James Basire, another engraver less known. Of introverted Blake doesn't go very well with fellow students and this reason leads him to spend much time in solitude, closed at Westminster Abbey, working on sketches for illustrations destined for antique books. It is during this period that was born in William the great passion for medieval art. In 1779 ends his apprenticeship with Basire and 8 October of the same year he enrolled at the most prestigious art school of Inghilterraalla, the Royal Academy of Arts. His experience here is short and unhappy, marked by hostility towards Sir Joshua Reynolds, principal of the Academy. However Blake cultivated important friendships among students. In 1780 his Watercolour is exposed to the public in the halls of the Royal Academy; also in that year he began to receive the first commissions as an engraver. On 18 August 1782, despite the advice of his father, William Blake marries Catherine Boucher, twentysomething daughter of a florist. With the help of her husband Catherina learns to read and write; they won't have children but will live a Union many happy. Then Catherine will help her husband at various stages of his work as an editor. In 1783 Blake published his first illustrated book "poetical Sketches". A year later he dies the father: William Blake becomes Publisher and dealer of prints, unfortunately in brief the company fails. In recent years hosting at home by his younger brother Robert: for the pair becomes the son they never had. but another tragedy is consumed when in February 1787, only nineteen years old, Robert died of phthisis. The figure of brother continues to obsess Blake who becomes convinced that the deceased brother he would have appeared to help him solve the problems with a new printing technique. Blake's goal was to combine poetry and illustrations on the same plate, developing a new method of printing that would make possible the operation. Blake christens this technique "print" and the first illustrated example is the peotica collection "songs of innocence", completed in 1789. In 1794 it publishes the "songs of experience". According to the artist, the two sides illustrated exactly the opposite States of the human soul ": the former are meditations on childhood, the seconds (including the famous" Tyger, Tyger ") relate to the lost innocence of adulthood. Between these two lies the most important poetry collections between the prose works of William Blake, "the marriage of heaven and hell, published in 1793 as a book, a complex philosophical work that expresses the revolt against the established values of his time. Blake realizes a series of Monotypes generally known under the name "large color prints". There are twelve-some even more than one specimen exists-but is certain the existence of at least another Monotype, which apparently has not come down to us. It is probably different players inspired by the Bible, William Shakespeare and Milton. Unfortunately the works do not get the expected success and the artist struggling to make a living as an engraver. Sudden knows luck when in 1795 the friend Flaxman introduces him to Thomas Butts, civil servant, that starting from 1799 and for twenty years it will be his patron: Butts pays Blake a regular salary and fills the House of his works. In 1803 due to a fight with a drunken soldier, Blake is denounced and accused of being responsible of the quarrel, but mostly is alleged to have uttered seditious sentences against the King and the army. The 11 January 1804 the trial and by the intervention of a friend was acquitted. In 1809 Blake alleste an exhibition in the House where it unfortunately turns out to be a disaster. At the age of fifty Blake feels a bankrupt in the eyes of the world. The years following are among the most troubled of its existence, with frequent economic difficulties overcome thanks to the support of the devotee Butts. In 1818 he meets his great patron, John Linnell, portraitist and landscape painter of some success. Through Linnell the last decade of life Blake becomes a peaceful and productive period, without the hassles of economic problems. Since 1821 started working at tables for "the book of job" and to the "Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri. The latter work includes some of the greatest masterpieces of William Blake, unfortunately death will prevent him from completing the work. The last great book miniato of William Blake's "Jerusalem", built between 1804 and 1820. In recent years, Blake suffers from what he called "sudden tremors"; falls ill with jaundice. The death comes on 12 August 1827, at the age of sixty-nine years.

Translation authorized by the website: Biografieonline.it under Creative Commons License.