William Blake was born at 28a Broad St, Soho on 28th November 1757, and he continued to live and work in London for most of his life. He was an engraver, printer (he invented a new technique of printing known as 'relief etching'), painter, poet, prophet and visionary.
From his early childhood, he saw visions of angels and conferred with the spirits of great personalities from ancient times. After dying in 1787, his deceased brother Robert became Blake's 'spirit guide' and inspiration for him throughout his prophetic life. Blake's marriage to Catherine was long and happy. They regularly worked side by side in his workshop, but had no children. She outlived him by four years and worked hard to safeguard his spiritual and artistic legacy.
He lived through an era of great political and social upheaval: the American War of Independence (1775-83), the French Revolution (1789), the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815) and the far-reaching social impact of the Industrial Revolution (1760s-1840s). Moved by the social injustices of industrial England, Blake captured the mood of his times through his paintings and poetry. Greatly misunderstood by the greater part of 18th century English society, Blake is today recognised as a leading English poet and artist, confounding the intellect with works that appeal directly to the human spirit. He prophesised the coming of the Golden Age through the awakening of Divinity within human beings (Divine Humanity) and dedicated his life to the liberation of mankind from the 'mind-forged manacles' of its conditioning, materialism and rational ego.
Towards the end of his life, he finally received the full respect and understanding of a group of promising young artists called 'The Shoreham Ancients', who included the painters Samuel Palmer and George Richmond. Surrounded by his admirers, he died on 12th August 1827 at 3 Fountain Court near the banks of the River Thames in London.
by Tim Bruce,
Actor and author of William Blake's Divine Humanity and Eternity in an Hour