Divine Images: The Life and Work of William Blake

Description

Although relatively obscure during his lifetime, William Blake has become one of the most popular English artists and writers, through poems such as “The Tyger” and “Jerusalem,” and images including The Ancient of Days. Less well-known is Blake’s radical religious and political temperament and that his visionary art was created to express a personal mythology that sought to recreate an entirely new approach to philosophy and art. This book examines both Blake’s visual and poetic work over his long career, from early engravings and poems to his final illustrations to Dante and the Book of Job. Divine Images further explores Blake’s immense popular appeal and influence after his death, offering an inspirational look at a pioneering figure. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Contents Introduction: This World Is a World of Imagination and Vision 1. Early Life and Work 2. Visions of Innocence 3. A New Heaven Is Begun 4. Lambeth and Experience 5. A New System of Mythology 6. Night Thoughts and The Four Zoas 7. England’s Pleasant Land 8. Creating Systems 9. Final Visions 10. Death and Resurrection: The Legacy of William Blake References Select Bibliography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index