Davison Art Center, Wesleyan University

DAC Collection Artist Information

William Blake

English poet and printmaker

Brief biography, in most instances from the Union List of Artist Names® Online:
Blake became one of leading figures of what would later be called Romanticism. His most original work is to be found in his hand-printed books of prophecy and personal mythology, done by a process he called "illuminated printing." Blake was largely forgotten until Rossetti and other Pre-Raphaelites hailed his work as visionary, and by the 20th century his ideas were seen as blueprints for the counterculture ideas of the 1960s. His wife Catherine assisted him in hand-coloring his illuminated prints.

Artist ID number in the Union List of Artist Names®: ULAN 500012489.
The ULAN link above leads to a cataloging authority record at the Getty Research Institute.

Objects related to William Blake:

William Blake Beggar’s Opera, Act III, 1790 (restrike printed 1963) Engraving
William Blake Job’s Comforters: “And when they lifted up their eyes afar off and knew him not they lifted up their voice and wept”, 1825 Engraving on India paper
William Blake Job’s Sacrifice: “And My Servant Job Shall Pray for You”, 1825 Engraving on India paper laid down on wove paper
William Blake Every One Also Gave Him a Piece of Money, 1825 Engraving on India paper
William Blake The Whirlwind of Lovers, Plate I, 1826 (restrike printed later) Engraving on linen-fiber paper
William Blake The Demons Tormenting Ceampolo, 1826 (restrike printed later) Engraving on linen-fiber paper
William Blake The Two Demons, Calcabrina and Alichino, 1826 (restrike printed later) Engraving on linen-fiber paper
William Blake Agnello in the Circle of Thieves, 1826 (restrike printed later) Engraving on linen-fiber paper
William Blake Buoso Attacked by Francesco di Cavalcanti in the Form of a Serpent, 1826 (restrike printed later) Engraving on linen
William Blake The Circle of the Falsifiers, 1826 (restrike printed later) Engraving on linen
William Blake Boca Degli Abati in the Lake of Ice, 1826 (restrike printed later) Engraving on linen
William Blake London, 1794 Relief etching printed in black ink on J. Whatman (1831?) paper
William Blake A Poison Tree, 1794 Relief etching printed in black ink on J. Whatman (1831?) paper
William Blake after William Hogarth Beggar’s Opera, Act III, 1790 Etching and engraving on wove paper
William Blake after William Hogarth The Beggar’s Opera, 1790 (restrike printed 1963) Etching and engraving on Rives paper
William Blake after William Hogarth The Beggar’s Opera, 1790 (restrike printed 1963) Etching and engraving on Richard de Bas handmade paper
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ULAN biographical content is displayed with permission of the Getty Research Institute. Some ULAN content in some DAC artist records has been lightly edited. Content from the Getty Research Institute is © 2021 The J. Paul Getty Trust. All rights reserved.

Information here was last updated on 11/6/2020. Some is from older cataloging. Most objects acquired through 5/9/2019 are represented; cataloging is in process for some objects. We continue to add and update content. Please contact the DAC Registrar of Collections to suggest corrections with citations. Captions embedded in DAC images have basic information as of the time the digital image was made; details and updates appear on object pages.

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