William Blake

William Blake (1757-1827) was an English artist and poet. His writings and artworks were not fully appreciated until his death, though his contributions were great. He is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the English poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age.

He was born in London, where he spent his life with rare intervals as a mystic from his very boyhood. He was apprenticed as an artist under an engraver, whom he assisted with his drawings, painted in watercolours and engraved, and started on original lines of his own as illustrator of books and a painter. He illustrated Young's "Night Thoughts," Blair's "Grave," and the "Book of Job."

He devoted his leisure to poetry and wrote "Songs of Innocence (1789)," "Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1794)," "Gates of Paradise (1793)," and "Songs of Experience (1794)". His poems marked the beginning of romanticism and the rejection of the Age of Enlightenment.

William Blake was an intensely religious man of deep spiritual insight, most vivid feeling and imagination. He was a man of stainless character but eccentric habits, and had for wife an angel, Catherine Boucher.

Wisdom & Quotes

I was angry with my friend:

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
- A Poison Tree

Cruelty has a human heart,

And Jealousy a human face
Terror, the human form divine,
And Secrecy, the human dress.
- A Divine Image in Songs of Experience

Energy is eternal delight.