William Blake 2009

Next year Tate Britain will celebrate the 200th anniversary of William Blake's first solo exhibition in 1809 by reuniting 9 of the 16 works which Blake showed at his brother's shop in Golden Square, Soho, London. This painting of Jacob's Ladder (1799-1806) is one of the survivors. The only critic who turned up at the 1809 exhibition gave it the raspberry, not an auspicious start. Blake persevered and developed his own unique style of religious art, which some people regard as visionary. Modern fantasy artists have left him far behind, so I wouldn't expect too much from this show. Click the title link for more pictures.