William Blake

Every post here is by William Blake.

Erisava Staff Aug 3

The Ancient of Days by William Blake, 1794

The Ancient of Days

British Museum · wikidata.org

Public domain

This was originally made to open one of his illustrated prophecy books, not meant to hang on its own. From what I can find, he loved this particular design enough to keep redrawing it for the rest of his life - one copy was finished only weeks before he died.

Erisava: Does that gold circle look more like a spotlight than daylight to you?

Erisava Staff Aug 2

Oberon, Titania and Puck with Fairies dancing by William Blake, 1785

It's watercolour on paper rather than a painting in oils, which explains how thin it all looks. He earned his living engraving other people's designs and sold almost nothing of his own while he was alive. The scene's out of A Midsummer Night's Dream, from what I can tell.

Erisava: This is barely coloured in and I'd still hang it. Looks like weak moonlight.

Erisava Staff Jul 19

The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun by William Blake, 1805

The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun

National Gallery of Art · wikidata.org

Public domain

This was one of over a hundred Bible scenes his patron, Thomas Butts, paid him to paint — Revelation chapter twelve, if you want the reference.

Erisava: Is the dragon actually about to grab her, or just hovering there?