William Blake
William Blake
In British literature many authors and painters are outstanding. Each one in his/her own way and form is still influential to this day. A London man with a supremacy of imagination went beyond the norm and was able to become both and more. William Blake, an 18th century artist, became widely known for his poems, was inspired through religious visions, and created engravings to illustrate his poems.
William Blake was a 18th century visionary. Some may say he was far ahead of his time. But before he became what he intended to be many people and many things left influential impression on him and learning experiences before he came to have such a inventive mind set as he did. Early in life Blake was very influenced by people and various styles of art.
Blake was first educated at home therefore most of his childhood was influenced by his parents. “But his parents did encouraged him to collect prints of Italian masters (Murry 10).” Soon after his parents sent him to drawing school, he only learned how to read through schooling. Blake worked in his father’s shop and that’s were he learned a little writing. “Although having very little education he was well versed in Greek and Latin literature, the Bible and Milton (Murry 35).” Besides his parents another person that influenced him early on in life was Robert and his death. After drawing school he was sent to the Royal Academy where he learned of great artist, writers, and style that left major influences on him. “The religious symbolism and linear design characteristic
of gothic style was a large influence (Bentley 55).” Here he also became knowledgeable of the mythical writers such as Emmanuel Swedenborg, Jakebohome, and the Neo-Platonist. “When he became an established artist he soon combined a gothic style with Michelangelo, Raphael, and Durer in his art (Altizer 4).”
Before entering The Royal Academy he was an apprenticed to James Basire, an engraver....
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