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Yale Center for British Art Jerusalem Plate 84 |
Blake uses the word Gothic to refer to more than a period of time or a particular style, just as he uses Art to refer to more than a particular type of expression. By associating Gothic with 'Living Form', 'eternal Esistence', 'true Art' and with 'Any Age' he expand the meaning of Gothic beyond the traditional meaning. He relates Gothic to Urthona and to Imagination.
Blake had intense exposure to Gothic architecture in Westminster Abbey when he was apprenticed to James Basire who specialized in engravings for the Society of Antiquaries. Blake was assigned the task of making drawings of Gothic monuments. As noted in Prophet against Empire "Tapestries were removed in Westminster Abbey so that Blake could copy the hidden Gothic portraits of King Sebert and Henry III." Blake was present to make sketches when the tomb of Edward I was opened to examine the body. Blake's drawings were used by his master in making engravings for publication.
But to Blake Gothic became a symbol for what he aimed for in communicating his philosophy of Art. Gothic was was to him not only living but life-giving. Through Gothic he was able to:
"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour" (Auguries of Innocence, E 490)
And Eternity in an hour" (Auguries of Innocence, E 490)
On Virgil, (E 270) "Mathematic Form is Eternal in the Reasoning Memory. Living
Form is Eternal Existence. Grecian is Mathematic Form
Gothic is Living Form"Descriptive Catalogue, (E 544)"Poetry as it exists
now on earth, in the various remains of ancient authors, Music as
it exists in old tunes or melodies, Painting and Sculpture as it
exists in the remains of Antiquity and in the works of more
modern genius, is Inspiration, and cannot be surpassed; it is
perfect and eternal. Milton, Shakspeare, Michael Angelo, Rafael,
the finest specimens of Ancient Sculpture and Painting, and
Architecture, Gothic, Grecian, Hindoo and Egyptian, are the
extent of the human mind. The human mind cannot go beyond the
gift of God, the Holy Ghost. To suppose that Art can go beyond
the finest specimens of Art that are now in the world, is not
knowing what Art is; it is being blind to the gifts of the
spirit."Vision of the Last Judgment, (E 559)
"Multitudes are seen ascending from the Green
fields of the blessed in which a Gothic Church is representative
of true Art Calld Gothic in All Ages"Annotations to Reynolds,(E 649)
"What does this mean "Would have been" one of the first
Painters of his Age" Albert Durer Is! Not would
have been! Besides. let them look at Gothic Figures & Gothic
Buildings, & not talk of Dark Ages or of Any Age! Ages are All
Equal. But Genius is Always Above The Age" Inscriptions and Notes, (E 671)William Blake: engraving (revised and inscribed ca 1809-10)
"JOSEPH of Arimathea among The Rocks of Albion
Engraved by W Blake 1773 from an old Italian Drawing
This is One of the Gothic Artists who Built the Cathedrals
in what we call the Dark Ages Wandering about in sheep skins &
goat skins of whom the World was not worthy such were the
Christians in all Ages
Michael Angelo Pinxit"
William Blake: [on a proof of the early state of the
plate]
"Engraved when I was a beginner at Basires from a drawing by Salviati after Michael Angelo"
