William blake book biography csu

Biographical Sketch by Wendi Capehart and Leslie Laurio

William Blake was born in the Soho part of London on the 28th of November, 1757. His father, James Blake, kept a hosier's shop where he sold stockings.

The family were not very well to do. Young William, a born individualist, was already marching to the beat of his own drum, although it meant he was often alone.

Even as a child, William Blake was clearly talented at design, and his father tried to do what he could to help his son realize his full potential.

William blake

At the age of ten the boy was sent to a drawing school in the Strand (a part of London known as a place of entertainment, but which was also the home of many publishers and print shops). Meanwhile, William was cultivating his own artistic taste by constantly attending the different art sale rooms.

He was strongly opinionated about what he liked, and was called "the little connoisseur." He began to collect printed copies of pictures by