Images of the Divine in the work of William Blake

Although relatively obscure during his lifetime, William Blake has become one of the most popular English artists and writers, through poems such as ‘The Tyger’ and ‘Jerusalem’, and images including The Ancient of Days. This talk will examine the complex development of his vision of divinity over his long career as a poet and artist, from early engravings and poems to his final illustrations to Dante and the Book of Job. These are just some of the themes that are explored in Professor Jason Whitaker’s new biography of William Blake Divine Images (published in April 2021), which also considers the popular appeal and continuing influence of Blake to this day.

Jason Whittaker is Head of the School of English and Journalism at the University of Lincoln. He has extensively written on Blake and as well as his biography of the artist & guide to his works, is currently completing a book on the history of the hymn ‘Jerusalem’.