William Blake Research Paper

Once considered mad for his idiosyncratic ways, William Blake is now admired by many for his peculiar creativity (poets). William Blake was an eighteenth century artist, author and poet; today he is often acknowledged for his works that are commonly associated with Romanticism. Although during his lifetime his works received little publicity, they are legendary and prominent figures in art and poetry today.

Blake was born on November 28, 1757 in the Soho district of London, England, where his parents, James Blake and Catherine Wright Armitage Blake, raised him as well as his six siblings (Poet William Blake). Blake was the third oldest out of all of his siblings (William Blake bio). Two of his siblings, Catherine II and James, had a great

Four years after Blake began attending Henry Pars’s drawing school, he was offered an apprenticeship by an engraver named James Basire; Blake accepted Basire’s offer (Jay 33). One of Blake’s assignments as an engraver's apprentice was to sketch the tombs at Westminster Abbey. This assignment exposed Blake to new Gothic styles that he would later draw as inspirations (poet). During the eighteenth century, engravers were regarded as skilled craftsmen rather than artists. An engraver’s job was to transfer the design from a painting by an artist onto a metal plate that would be used in the production of pictures or book illustrations. However, Blake craved to become more than just a simple copier; he wanted to make art of his own. After Blake's seven years term apprenticeship ended, he enrolled at the Royal Academy to pursue his dream of becoming a professional painter. However since Blake was unwealthy and had no one to sponsor him, his venture to fulfil his dreams was unsuccessful. Although Blakes plan to attend the Royal Academy did not work out, he refused to let a minor setback terminate his chances of success. Blake continued to go forward with his life and find other roads that also led to his