“When nations grow old, the arts grow cold and commerce settles on every tree.” — William Blake

William Blake’s etching/watercolour “Ancient of Days”. :23.3 x 16.8 cm (9 1/8 x 6 7/8 in.) :British Museum, London* A deleted file is described by several sources as a copy held by Whitworth Institute, Manchester, though it appeared to be identical to this, which is said to be sourced from the British Museum. This copy is believed to be Blake’s final work, commissioned by Frederick Tatham. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
(It continues with: “And the poor and the old can live upon gold, For all are born poor, aged sixty-three.” I know it’s from On the Foundation of the Royal Academy, but I don’t get his point. He benefited, as a student, of The Royal Academy. And likely, as an established artist, he became a benefactor of the institution. It sounds to me like he’s complaining. Why? I don’t know. Any Blake aficionados out there? Be well and do good, friends.) — YUR
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I like Blake’s poetry and have memorized The Tyger because of it’s georgeous imagery. In an English Lit class I was first introduced to his work. He was progressive, ahead of his time (late 1700’s). He wrote about poor people and how difficult their lives were at the hands of the rich who did not seem to care. Once poem describes the life of the child chimney sweeps who did not live long because of their sooty work. They were sent nakeds into the chimneys because they were small enough to fit. Blake also illustrated his poems.
I like Blake’s poems a lot and memorized The Tyger because of the imagery that seems to me to have a spiritual meaning where a question is put the creator. I’ve heard that the lamb is Jesus and the Tyger is the world that crucified him. He was a progressive person, ahead of his time (late 1700’s) and wrote about the perils of being poor. One poem is about the child chimney sweeps who did not live long because of the soot they inhaled as they worked naked cleaning the chimney’s of the wealthy who did not seem to care much about the sufferings of the poor.
Sounds like a man after my own heart, friend! Thanks for sharing with us.
— YUR
You’re welcome. How do you know about Blake’s background?
“I’m known to locate certain things, from time to time.”
— YUR