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"I do not behold the outword creation... is a hindrance and not action"
William Blake(1757-1827) was a great influence in poetry whose style has set a standard for poets till this day,
but because of his unique style he did not receive credit until long after his death. With his long life of 70 years, he was
among some of England's most famous intellectuals including Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Thomas Paine.
Many in his day thought of him as unstable, demented, and even insane, making him looked down upon by many. He also had many
inspirations and some of the people he admired included: Raphael, Heemskerk, Dürer, and Michelangelo. These famous artists
inspired Blake to create many famous poems and paintings.
When Blake was a young child, he would frequently see God and angels in a tree near his house in London, England. He would
also say he talked to his deceased brother early in his life. His mind was prone to fantastic visions throughout his life
and proved to be a major motivation in his works. His parents were very supportive because they felt there son had a very
special talent and if put to the right use could be very moving, and so it turned out to be.
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Blake was clearly very gifted and at the young age of ten, his parents enrolled him into Henry
Pars drawing school. Then, at the age of fourteen Blake started a seven year apprenticeship with engraver James Basire, the
official engraver to the Society of Antiquaries. He was sent around to sketch drawings of many of statues and monuments. One
of his most famous places he sketched at was the Westminster Abbey Church.
In 1782, Blake married his loving wife Catherine Sophia Boucher (1762-1831). While married he taught his
wife how to read and write, and although they never had any children, they had a very happy marriage, especially compared
to many of other romantic poets. She may of played a significant part in many of Blake's works because they normally worked
on them together. In 1800, the Blakes moved to Felpham in Sussex where William was hired to create works of art by one of
his mentors, poet William Hayley. Just a few years later however he ran into problems when he was accused of stating words
of treason against the King. He was acquitted the charges a couple years later.
In 1821 the Blakes moved to lodgings in Fountain Court, Strand. A year later he started a series of paintings for Dante
Alighieris Divine Comedy. He was so devoted to these paintings he worked on them the day he died, August 12, 1827. His wife
didn't have the money for a funeral so a friend loaned the money to Catherine. Blake was buried in an unmarked grave in Bunhill
Fields, London. Catherine died and was buried four years later in a nearby site. A marker stands now representing them, nearby
to where they were buried. In 1957 a memorial to Blake and his wife was built in there hometown of Westminster Abbey, London.
Works Cited:
C.D. Merriman. William Blake.http://www.online-literature.com/blake/
Denise Vultee. William Blake. http://www.blakearchive.org
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