The English ‘romantic’ painter, printmaker and poet William Blake (1757-1827) was a radical visionary. He expressed his mystical views through paintings, prints, and poetry. Blake was never inclined to represent the materialistic things around him. The concept of his work was driven by religious visions. Blake’s unusual ability to capture and portray a subject in his own imagination shows his great brilliance as an artist. One of the most amazing paintings of him was a relief called “The Ancient of Days”, created in 1794.
This 9″ x 7″ (23 cm x 17 cm) print was made from a copper plate engraving. “The Ancient of Days” was actually a cover illustration for his book of poems “Europe, a Prophecy,” which Blake published in 1794. William Blake claimed to have created this alluring image based on a vision he had of a staircase while I was living in Lambeth. It may seem that there is no obvious connection between the print and its title, however, it is a known fact that in the prophecies of it, the prophet Daniel referred to God as “The Ancient of Days”. Blake made the print in intricate detail and hand-painted it using deep, vibrant watercolors.
The image shows an elderly but strong-looking man sitting on one knee in a crouched sphere. The brilliant coloring of the dial makes it look like the sun surrounded by a dark cloudy sky rendered in maroons and browns. The man has long white hair and a white beard. He is stretching to bend down out of the sphere holding a huge compass in his left hand, as if he is taking a measurement. William Blake was called eccentric, because he rejected all the conventional norms of religion and formed his own beliefs. He often conveyed his ideology through his works. “The Ancient of Days” is one such illustration in which Blake plays ‘Urizen’ (a name he had given to the creator of the universe in his writings). This magnificent illuminated print is proof of Blake’s inventive creative genius and skillful artistry.
“The Ancient of Days” was one of Blake’s favorites. It is currently in the British Museum in London. His innovative artwork may not have been well received during his lifetime, but today they are considered great masterpieces. William Blake’s artwork is considered unique and critics have labeled him one of the greatest artists Britain produced.