Blake as an artist
By: David Bindman.
Publisher: Phaidon; E. P. Dutton
Published: 1977
Place of publication: Oxford [Eng.]; New York
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 256
ISBN-13: 9780714816371
Subjects: Blake, William, 1757-1827 -- Criticism and interpretation; Art, English
Description: I have attempted to approach the Illuminated Books from an art-historical point of view, a task which would have been impossible if the general consensus upon their meaning had not been established in the last few years, primarily by literary scholars. I am now convinced that Blake's mythology can be made sufficiently comprehensible to allow one to discuss his subject matter in a way comparable to that of any other artist of the past, but I am also aware that many scholars regard the Illuminated Books as more complex in thought than I do. It is clear to me that the Illuminated Books are not a self-contained aspect of Blake's work, but contribute directly to the understanding of the seemingly more conventional designs for the Bible, for Milton and for other writers. A central assumption of this book is that there is a fundamental unity between Blake's art and his writing, but my focus has still been predominantly upon the art, and I have made literary judgments only when they affect the argument. - Introduction.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
A revision of the author's thesis, Courtauld Institute.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Section one : The emergence of the prophet.; title: The visionary apprentice; title: Student and independent engraver; title: Painting and prophecy; title: Section two : The infernal method.; title: Illuminated printing and private mythology; title: Swendenborg and Swedenborgianism; title: The three tracts : There is no Natural Religion, series a and b, and All Religions are One; title: The landscape of innocence; title: Revolutionary intimations; title: Section three : The prophecies.; title: The continental myth; title: The process of creation : from the Notebook to Songs of Experience; title: The myth of creation : the completion of the Bible of Hell and the large colour prints; title: The Lambeth Books and Blake's contemporaries; title: Section four : Primitive and original ways of execution.; title: Young's Night Thoughts and Gray's Poems; title: The Butts Tempera Series; title: Felpham; title: The return to London; title: Section five : Failure and self-justification.; title: Blair's Grave; title: The defense of visionary art; title: Apocalypse and last judgment; title: Section six : Milton and the epics.; title: Milton and Jerusalem; title: Cornus and Paradise Lost; title: Illustrations to Milton's minor poems; title: Section seven : The end of the pilgrimage.; title: The new public; title: The book of Job; title: The last works; title: Appendix A : A brief guide to the Illuminated Books; title: Appendix B : A glossary of Blakean terms