Blake, William

Blake, William (1757-1827), poet, painter, engraver, b. London.

Blake's father owned a clothing shop and the family were not rich.

William started work in an engraver's shop at the age of thirteen, learning how to cut patterns in metal plates and print from them.

He wrote some poems as a boy. In later life he wrote more poetry and printed it himself in picture books.

Blake's little poetry books were beautiful, but they did not sell many copies at that time. Today they are greatly admired and very precious.

Blake was also a remarkable painter. He painted in an unusual syle and his work was not popular in his day. Yet his paintings are now displayed in the National Gallery in London and elsewhere.

Blake went on working almost up to the time of his death at the age of seventy.

His finest work of the engraving of twenty-one pictures to his own Book of Job (1826). You will find many of his poems in your poetry books today including The Lamb (Little lamb who made thee?), The Tiger (Tiger! tiger! burning bright) and Jerusalem which is often sung as a hymn.

See: The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake ~ William Blake