William Blake

Date of Birth: November 28, 1757

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: August 12, 1827

Biography

William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker who is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. Born in London, Blake was largely unrecognized during his lifetime, but his work has since been celebrated for its expressiveness and creativity, as well as the philosophical and mystical undercurrents that pervade it. Blake’s parents recognized his artistic talents early on and enrolled him in drawing classes. He later apprenticed with an engraver, a profession that deeply influenced his style and medium. Blake married Catherine Boucher in 1782, who became his lifelong companion and aide in his artistic endeavors. His most famous works include “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience,” collections of poems that explore the duality of human nature. Blake also created a complex mythology in his epic poems, such as “Jerusalem” and “The Four Zoas,” which combined his interests in religion, politics, and human psychology.

5 Interesting Facts about William Blake

1. William Blake claimed to have visions throughout his life, including seeing God at the age of four and angels in a tree at eight.

2. He was a staunch supporter of the American and French revolutions, and his work often contained themes of rebellion against oppression.

3. Blake was also an accomplished painter and printmaker; his illustrations for Dante’s “Divine Comedy” are particularly renowned.

4. He was largely self-taught in many disciplines, including languages and the Bible, which had a profound influence on his work.

5. William Blake was not formally recognized during his lifetime, and he died in relative obscurity and poverty.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from William Blake

1. “To see a World in a Grain of Sand and a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand and Eternity in an hour.”

2. “The imagination is not a state: it is the human existence itself.”

3. “If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.”

4. “I must create a system or be enslaved by another man’s; I will not reason and compare: my business is to create.”

5. “He who binds to himself a joy does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternity’s sun rise.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

William Blake achieved little financial success during his lifetime and died in relative poverty. His highest net worth would have been minimal, and he relied on the support of patrons and his wife.