William Blake: English Poet and Artist
He was highly skilled both as an artist/engraver and a poet, although most of his vast output is little read today
William Blake was born on 28 November 1757 in London. His father James was a dealer in hosiery (stockings). William was the third son of four (one of whom died young) and he also had a younger sister.
Early life
Little is known about his early life, except for his own later accounts of seeing strange things as a child, such as angels in trees. He was clearly interested in drawing pictures, and the only school he appears to have attended was one devoted to drawing. At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to James Basire, an engraver and printmaker, and he spent seven years learning this craft. Through this apprenticeship, in researching the subjects for engravings and talking with clients, Blake acquired an education of sorts in such things as science and archaeology.
On completing his apprenticeship, Blake became a freelance copy engraver, mainly working on book illustrations. However, he was more interested in doing original work and he enrolled as a student at the Royal Academy of Arts, where he stayed for six years. He specialised in creating drawings and paintings of historical subjects.
