英国文学 William Blake概要1.pptVIP

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * William Blake /depts/speccoll/exhibits/Blake/Blakeportrait.gif William Blake Born November 28, 1757 London, England Died August 12, 1827 London, England 69 years old /art_gallery.htm Blake’s Life Early years Began his artistic career at 10 years old when his father sent him to the best drawing school in England Apprenticed to an engraver at 14 Adult life Always worked as an engraver and professional artist Was very poor, especially later in life Always felt rich in spirit Blake’s Art /wm/paint/auth/blake/ /wm/paint/auth/blake/ /special/William_Blake/15.R.htm Blake’s Life His life is considered “simple,” “boring,” when compared to the lives of his contemporaries (Coleridge, Shelley, Keats) Married to the same woman most of his life Never traveled Blake’s Wife Married Catherine Boucher in 1782 They were married until his death in 1827 She assisted with the printing and hand coloring of his poems /special/William_Blake/11.R.htm Blake’s Death Suffered in his last years “that Sickness to which there is no name.” Probably biliary cirrhosis Caused by prolonged exposure to the fumes produced when acid is applied to copper plates This was one of his methods of engraving Miscellaneous Blake Facts Claimed to see visions of angels, spirits, and ghosts of kings and queens First vision seen at age 4 (God at the window) age 9 (tree filled with angels) Favorite brother Robert died and came back to William in a vision to teach him an engraving technique Saw visions until his death; on his deathbed, burst into song about the things he saw in Heaven More Blake Facts Arrested twice: 1783: he and two other artists were arrested and accused of spying; were finally released once it was verified they were not French spies 1803: put on trial for pushing a soldier out of his garden, allegedly saying, “Damn the king. All the soldiers are slaves.” Blake’s Poetry Work received little attention during his lifetime Most of his poetr