He is still burning bright
by Maxine
Today, November 28 is the 250th birthday of poet William Blake. Blake was only four years old when he began seeing visions of angels. He began drawing and when his parents saw his talent sent him to art school to become an engraver. He produced engravings for works of Chaucer, Dante, the Bible and books on architecture, botany and medicine. Blake's work became more infused with his visions and not as salable. He had also been writing poetry for most of his life and began printing it on his own printing press. He wrote his poems on copper plates and engraved illustrations around them. He sold these small collections himself.
Blake never achieved fame in his lifetime but since his death, his poems have inspired generations and have been the source of musical productions of his Songs of Innocence and Experience by such luminaries as Ann Arbor composer William Bolcom. Tracy Chevalier's new novel, Burning Bright features Blake as a main character.
Blog Post