William Blake (1757 - 1827)

William Blake was born in Soho England, in 1757. Blake was educated at his home, mainly by his mother. Blake often had visions of angels and monks, and also talked with the angel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary and other historic persons. His parents often encouraged Blake to purchase prints of ‘Italian masters’ and he was also given engravings and plaster casts.

He was inspired by Gothic art and architecture as well as Adam Ghisi and Albert Dürer.

Poetical Sketches, published in 1783, was Blake’s first book of poems. This was followed by the book ‘Songs of Innocence’, published in 1789, in which no two copies of the book were the same and ‘Songs of Experience in 1794.

Blake died on August 12, 1827, and was buried at the Disseter’s burial ground in Bunhill Fields.

Sources:
William Blake (1757-1827), 2008. Retrieved: March 4, 2011, from

http://kirjasto.sci.fi/wblake.htm