William Blake was an English artist, poet and prophet born in 1757 in London. He began having visions at a young age which led him to be seen as a prophet. Blake started his career as an engraver but later used his visions as inspiration for his paintings and poetry. His works often focused on the Bible and themes of sexuality. Some of his most famous works include the poems "Jerusalem" and "The Garden of Love." Blake lived his entire life in London until his death in 1827.

1. William Blake
CHELSEA DEBOSE

2. BIRTH TO DEATH
Born 1757 in London, England
Died 1827 in London, England
Began having visions at a very early
age, later became known as a prophet
because of this visions
Started in art as an engraver, was
apprenticed and later opened his own
shop as an engraver

3. CONT’D
Later in life Blake used his visions to
paint and they became the focus of
his paintings
They also became a focus in his
poetry, the bible is a general focus
throughout
Blake was also famous for his
openness on sexuality and nudity,
both in his personal life and art

4. JERUSALEM
'I am not a God afar off, I am a brother and friend; /
'Within your bosoms I reside, and you reside in me.'"
This is a quote from the poem and it was a personal
favorite. It shows William Blake’s connection with the
bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

5. THE GARDEN OF LOVE
I laid me down upon a bank,
Where love lay sleeping;
I heard among the rushes dank
weeping, weeping.
Then I went to the heath and the wild,
To the thistles and thorns of the waste;
And they told me how they were beguiled,
Driven out, and compelled to chaste.
I went to the Garden of Love,
And saw what I had never seen;
A Chapel that was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.
And the gates of this Chapel were shut
And “Thou shalt not,” writ over the door;
So I turned to the Garden of Love
That so many sweet flowers bore.
And saw it was filled with graves,
And tombstones where flowers should be;
And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars my joys and desires.

6. THE GARDEN OF LOVE
This was such a great poem
because of the imagery it
creates. I can picture the
tombstones where flowers
should be and has such an
in depth meaning, much
deeper than the surface of
the poems wording.

7. William Blake
1757-1827
Artist
Poet
Prophet