ARTWORKS

William Blake

Thomas Phillips (1770–1845)

National Portrait Gallery, London

William Blake

Image credit: National Portrait Gallery, London

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The artist Blake was an engraver who had a calling as a divinely inspired poet and prophet. He developed an integrated method of engraving copper plates with words and images. His visionary illuminated works include Visions of the Daughters of Albion (1793) and Songs of Innocence and Experience (1794) which contains 'Tyger! Tyger! burning bright'. Blake's work later became highly symbolic and complex. Often misunderstood or scorned for his radical politics, Blake's work was only recognised by close friends like Fuseli and Flaxman and his disciple, the young Samuel Palmer. Phillips is said to have caught Blake's 'rapt poetic expression' by luring him to talk of his friendship with the Archangel Gabriel.

National Portrait Gallery, London

London

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Title

William Blake

Date

1807

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 92.1 x W 72 cm

Accession number

212

Acquisition method

Purchased, 1866

Work type

Painting

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Normally on display at

National Portrait Gallery, London

St Martin’s Place, London, Greater London WC2H 0HE England

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Artist or maker

Thomas Phillips

1770–1845

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