BLAKE’S LIFE
1757 Born 28 November son of James Blake a hosier, near Golden Square in central London. 1768-72 Attended Henry Pars’s drawing school in Strand. 1772-79 Apprenticed to James Basire, engraver. In 1773 engraved his earliest known picture, ‘Joseph of Arimathea’ after Michelangelo. Made drawings of monuments in Westminister Abbe7 , 1779 Student at the Royal Academy, where Sir Joshua Reynolds was President. Exhibited there for the first time in 1780. Made living as engraver, especially for the bookseller Joseph Johnson. Friendship with other artists— John Flaxman (b. 1755, sculptor and Swedenborgian), Thomas Storhard, James Barry, and later Henry Fuseli (b. 1741, Swiss, returned to London in 1780) and George Cumberland. 178O Saw Gordon riots, including the burning of Newgate prison, 1782 Married Catherine Boucher (b. 1762), daughter of a market-gardener in Battersea. Until 1790 they lived in central London. She helped in printing and colouring his works. They had no children, 1783 Poetical Sketches printed at expense of Flaxman and Rev. A.S. Mathew, the copies being given to Blake for private distribution. At Mathew’s house met artists, writers, etc., some of whom are satirized inAn Island in the Moon (written C. 1784-5 not published by Blake); sang his songs to his own tunes. 1784 Father died. Set up print shop with another Basire apprentice James Parker, unsuccessful. 1787 Favourite brother Robert (b. 1767), who had been living with the B lakes as a pupil, died of consumption, 1788 First works in illuminated printing produced, but not issued—All Religions Are One and There is No Natural Religion, 1789 Uriel written and illustrated, but not engraved. Songs of Innocence and Tliei engraved. Attended meeting of Swedenborgian Society; wrote annotations in copy of Swedenborg’s Wisdom of Angels Concerning Divine Love and Divine Wisdom. Did not long associate with the Society; annotations in Wisdom of Angels Concerning Divine Providence (c. 1790) more critical; but continued to use ideas from Swedenborg. 1790 Moved to 13 Hercules Buildings, Lambeth. Early Lambeth years were fertile and relativelyprosperous ones. Blake was illustrating works of others (e.g. Wollstonecraft’s Original Stories from Real Life (1791), Stedmarf s Narrative of a Five Years ‘Expedition (worked on 1792, published 1796), producing own pictures and drawings, and writing Songs of Experience and shorter prophetic books. 1791 The French Revolution printed by Johnson, but not published. Met prominent radicals such as Godwin, Wollstonecraft, Paine, Priestely,Horlcroft who gathered at Johnson’s shop and weekly dinners. 1793 Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Visions of the Daughters of Albion, America, Songs of Experience. The Gales of Paradise (later expanded) advertised for sale in Blake’s Prospectus. 1794 Songs of Innocence and of Experience first issued in one volume. Europe and Book of Urizen engraved. 1795-7 Made 537 drawings for edition of Edward Young’s Night noughts, of which 43 were includ in the first of four projected volumes in 1797, after which the project was abandoned. Abe this time began first long term. Vala later The Four Zoas, which he continued to work on i about ten years, but never publi shed. His career as engraver was damaged by the failure Night Thoughts; but he was supported by friend and patron Thomas Butts, who bout pictures and drawings regularly from about 1799, especially watercolours on bibilical subjec c. 1797 Made 116 illustrations to the poems of Thomas Gray for Mrs. Flaxman. 1800 Moved to cottage near Felpham on Sussex coast, to be near new patron. Thomas Hayle} minor poet. During next three years worked on various projects for Hayley. on illustrations Milton’s on Vala and Milton; learned to read Greek, Latin and Herbrew. 1803 Fracas with drunken soldier in his garden led to trial for sedition (Jan 1804). in which he was acquitted. Returned to London, to South Molton Street near Oxford Street. Worldly fortunes at low ebb—few commissions; but wrote in 1804 of being ‘again enlightened with the light I enjoyed in my youth’. 1804 Title pages of Milton and Jerusalem dated this year, but the poems did not reach their final states until later— Milton by about 1808, Jerusalem by 1820. 1805 Made designs for Blair’s The Grave, expecting commission for the more lucrative engraving but engraving given to the more fashionable Schiavonetti. 1809 Unsuccessfully exhibited ‘Canterbury Pilgrims’ and otherpaintings, with Descriptive Catalogue; works ridiculed by the Hunt brothers in their periodical, The Examiner. Another exhibition was planned for the following year, for which a ‘Public Address” and a commentary on his picture ‘Vision of the Last Judgment’ were drafted in his Note-book: but it did not take place During the next decade suffered poverty and neglect, but continued to do some engraving (e.g. of Flax man’s designs of Hesiod (1817)and for Wedgwood’s china catalogues (1815- and to work on his own paintings, especially illustrations to Milton, and poems. 1818 Met young painter John Linnell, who became a friend and supporter: and John Varley, for whom he drew his ‘Visionary Heads; . Engraved enlarged version of The Gates of Paradise, About this time drafted The Everlasting Gospel inhis Notebook. 1820 Designed and engraved 17 woodcuts for an edition of Virgil’s pastorals; about this time engraved The Laocoon, On Homer s Poetry and On Virgil; made first complete copy of Jerusalem 1821 Moved to lodgings in two small rooms in 3 Fountain Court, Strand. 1822 The Ghost of Abel engraved. 1823-5 Engraved for Linnell Illustrations of the Book of Job, published 1826, based on watercol drawings made c. 1805-6 for Butts. 1824 Met young painter, Samuel Palmer; was the inspirer of a group of young artists, the’ Anciei who came to ‘the house of the interpreter’ to hear him talk. Was commissioned by Linne make illustrations to Dante’s Divine Comedy; by death had made 102 drawings, of while engraved. During same period drew 29 illustrations to Bunyan’s Pilgrim s Progress. 1827 Died 12 August
