William Blake: The Ancient of Days: Great Art Explained
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- My other channel, Great Books Explained here - / @greatbooksexplained371
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“Shall [we] call him Artist or Genius-or Mystic-or Madman? Probably he is all.”
The 18th century artist William Blake was a true radical, in the deepest sense of the world, and he raged against injustice of every kind.
Blake belonged to the Romantic age, but stands utterly alone in that age, both as an artist and as a poet: he is someone who invented his very own form of graphic art, which organically fused beautiful images with powerful poetry, while he also forged his own distinctive philosophical world-view and created an original cosmology of gods and spirits, designed to express his ideas about love, freedom, nature and the Divine.
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"What a brilliant series this is" - Stephen Fry on Twitter
SUBTITLES
I input the English subtitles myself but I rely on volunteers to do subtitles for other languages and I really appreciate it - just contact me at jamespayne33@hotmail.com
Spanish Subtitles by Alma Perdomo
CREDITS
Opening Animation and Title Sequence by Brian Adsit (instagram .... and Behance www.behance.com/badsit88)
Recording and sound Mix by Robert Lewis (Thank you!)
Actor: Roger Surridge
VIDEOS
All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel do not claim any right over them.
MUSIC
Jerusalem (Hymn) - Music by Sir Hubert Parry and word by William Blake
BOOKS
William Blake vs the World (highly recommended) by John Higgs
William Blake Masterpieces of Art by Michael Kerrigan
William Blake's Universe by Esther Chadwick and David Bindman
Blake by Peter Ackroyd
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Please don’t forget to ‘like’ and leave a comment (however short), as it REALLY helps promote the channel. My other channel, Great BOOKS Explained can be found here - www.youtube.com/@greatbooksexplained371 - thanks so much for your amazing support - James
William Blake: The Ancient of Days: Great Art Explained 31.5.24 Blake probably not a man to be argued with. One feels he wouldn't be averse to the odd bout of fisticuffs or worse, should the need arise.......Most folk meet with Blake some time in their life. i feel he's trying to take umbrage with his gaolers. I argued with him, whimsically, of course, doting my formative years.....religion is stupid. end of.....
Excited for part two!
Appreciate your work!
Waiting for part 2! Thank you for this!
There's a dearth of worthwhile content on TH-cam (and everywhere, really), but this is gold. I never scroll past these videos. Thank you for making them. You're creating new fans of art and literature.
Making a two-part series which crosses over from Great Art to Great Books with - who else? - William Blake? Genius move. Well played sir!
It is worth noting that talented men/ women never walk alone. The fact that Blake lived with some immensely gifted peers and, yet, managed to make his mark (despite his perceived eccentricities) tells us that talent is not a dimension to be measured but an “infinite” that has to be felt, beyond this mirage called time. Thank you for making yet another interesting video 🙏🏽
That’s a great comment - thanks 🙏
I wish I had said something like that.
Look a pretend enlightened
I don't see the connection between your position and your conclusion.
How bizarre to have seen this image so many times without a clue that Blake had come up with an entire cosmology! Thank you for this video!
My pleasure!
We at the William Blake Archive want to offer our praise for this thoughtful and informative video. The discussion of Urizen and Orc nicely contextualizes Blake's work with the tensions between the scientific thinking of the time and Blake's bold and imaginative ideology. The Part 2 video explores Blake's spiritual questions and beliefs even more deeply. We greatly appreciate the work you do.
It is a blessing that such high quality content is available for free for everyone.
Kudos to the efforts and hard work behind this piece
So nice of you thanks 🙏
I'm honestly embarrassed to realize how little I knew about Blake the Artist. While I knew he made the illustrations I had no idea how innovative and holistic his approach to his literary work was. Eagerly awaiting Part 2 on his poetry!
I love that this is covered in both channels. What an amazing man. Thank you.
Thanks for watching 🙏
Blake was so talented to be able to draw backwards.Some its beyond mortal comprehension that he could do artwork of platemaking like he did back then. Hes a great man. A wonder n his own right !Thank you Mr blake
Always anticipate videos from you. You are one of the few most consistently high quality TH-cam channels.
I really appreciate the amount of time and effort you put into these videos. I am always captivated by your storytelling and leave the videos happy to have learned something!
Thanks for the comment - I appreciate it 🙏
Ever since I read this:
“Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry”
I’ve been fascinated by Blake. Looking forward to the Great Books video!
I also love that poem.
The quality has grown leaps and bounds
I appreciate that - thanks 🙏
It has always been amazing!
Thank you for introducing William Blake to us. Thanks to you, I can now understand Romanticism a little better. Your music, visual art, and narration work so harmoniously together and your channels are great contributions and gifts to all humanity.
Thanks for listening
Amazing person, Blake. Like many fellow watchers here I had no idea about the nuances of his art. Thank you!
My favorite channel! Thank you for educating us and enriching our lives
Some of his paintings are like graphic novel style before it existed , vivid with imagination .
Spoke like he was feeling life in all things and connected to awe in experience while still being of the world
Nice comment - thanks 🙏
You are truly the good standard for art history videos, congratulations 👏
Thank you so much 🙏
Gold Standard!
Bravo.
Always saw the William Blake paintings but knew very little about the person. Just assumed he was a madman.
Thank you.
You're very welcome
This couldn’t have been more appropriately timed for my situation-just uploaded 12 hrs ago- I’m having breakthroughs with my life and now I have role model too!
Great to hear 🙏
I've been distracted and haven't watched Great Art Explained for a while. My loss! Brilliant work.
Welcome back!
Thanks!
I live in felpham, and walk past Blake's cottage to get to the beach. Thank you for this fantastic video, to think I share the streets he walked!
A little token of appreciation for your Lee Miller video. Your work was not in vain and is greatly appreciated.
Thank so much! It is appreciated!
We're eating well this morning, thank you!
Enjoy!
You belong on broadcast media- I have been watching your films since the beginning- they are such a gift I wish you had wider reach.
Thank you 🙏
This is probably the best TH-cam channel out there currently - kudos from Denmark👍
What a lovely treat with which to start the weekend 🎉
Thank you 🙏
I am always stunned by the depth, forethought and serious study that goes into whatever it is you produce and gift to us. I am moved by your expertise and the profundity of the text. (Sometimes, so much so that I cry). I know that this sentiment is shared by all who unwittingly stumble upon your videos and marvel at the treasure they've found ... and I feel that the artists and writers whose world you have explored and translated for us, must be deeply grateful from the beyond. You have the most beautiful gift... that of SEEING and KNOWING and then teaching/sharing. I am smitten with each journey and always long for more, although each one is so rich, I fear a tummy upset were I to indulge in more than two at a time. And I realize how long it must take and how much it must cost you to produce each one. (Were I to die tomorrow, I would wish to be re-born as your daughter, so as to hear all the stories you've not yet put into form here).
I predict there is a place in Heaven for you, sitting alongside the Artists and Writers you have so lovingly portrayed. And I THANK YOU from the very tips of my toes.. ❤
Oh my goodness - what a lovely comment to wake up to! That is so kind - it is so pleasing to hear what joy my videos bring - thank YOU 🙏
Great to know i'm not alone. William Blake is a genius.
@@outsidetheabyss ❤
Thanks for making this video James. I love Blake’s work & he’s so often overlooked when people discuss great art. I’ve had my copy of ‘Songs of Innocence’ for 20 years which I picked up for 50 pence in a secondhand book shop in York. I bought it because my favourite group are The Doors & am obviously aware of the influence he had Morrison’s poetry & also because of Thomas Harris’s Red Dragon which I’m also grateful that you gave mention to. It’s only recently after rereading Alan Moore that I’ve realised the huge influence Blake has on his work too. Such an important artist & I look forward to the next one! Cheers!
Thanks yto you for this very instructive documentary about this artist William Blake
William Blake also invokes feeling in his art, his work is deeply profound, his work makes me feel deeply . I’ve gotten the type of education I never had in school from your channel.
That comment made me happy - thank you 🙏
You've single-handedly made me passionate about art, you def deserve more views! Great video as always!
Oh my gosh what great timing this video is!!!! Ive got my English literature exam in 4 days, and found this video just now - i thought it had been out for years.. thank you so much for summarising everything 💓
Oh I’m sorry the poetry one is not out until next week!!
@@GreatArtExplained Don't worry this video is still hugely helpful- we get marked on using his artworks too as they were intended to be viewed together 😁 Thank you so much
Absolutely superb, James. How we need a person like Blake now, although if we had somebody we would surely ignore or dismiss him, just as Blake was dismissed.
I have heard his name but never knew anything about him. Thank you for expanding my knowledge of another important artist! Well done!
A new video and it's the legend that is Blake! Perfect Saturday morning vibes
Hope you enjoyed it!
@@GreatArtExplained Loved it! Thank you
The visions and imagination of mystic figures you explained in the video sounds alot like symptoms of schizophrenia. There actually are studies about creativity and mental illnesses like schizophrenia. I think it would make a cool video to discuss paintings from artists with mental illness like from the Prinzhorn Collection!
I never knew his paintings were covers for his poetry, or that he self published his own works! That is so fascinating!
Thank you for all of this research, you inspire me to go into Art History for college!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this awesome video! I was lucky to see a special exhibition on William Blake at the Kunsthalle in Hamburg.
Wow! Probably the best informative youtube video I have ever watched. Well done. Thankyou very much for this!
I had no idea he was such a self publishing aficionado , and his images have this ancient biblical feeling
My favourite piece of art 'the ancient of days' but when you see this masterpiece it is so tiny !
The world needs more content like this!
Thank you 🙏
@user-zt6uu5tw9j No, check out his videos on his channel. He's done Basquiat, Haring, Warhol, Rothko, Kusama ...
My favorite evenings are Friday nights with a new Great Art Explained
Wonderful!
I’ve never clicked a link for a follow up video as fast as when you share that there’s a whole segment on Great Books Explained about the poetry!!
Coming this Friday!
Your visuals that you use with your text are so well done. Watching your videos is so enjoyable along with understanding the artists and art you describe. Thank you.
Glad you like them!
Always waiting for this notification to Pop... thank you for the effort ❤
Thanks for watching!
So many layers! Thank you for the clear explanation
You're so welcome!
Fabulous timing just got into bed with a cup of tea and the Lords book 📖🙏🕊️
Thank you for another wonderful art lesson!
James - your channels have brought me so much joy and knowledge. Looking forward to diving into Blake’s poetry now that I have an appreciation for this art. So many of the artists your videos have introduced me to were unknown to me before. Greatly appreciate all that you do!
I love the analysis of how Urizen is depicted. Ignoring the warmth, nearly succumbing to the abyss. He is clearly the most important figure in the frame, but from his perspective it is his tool that's the most important. Will be reflecting on this image for a long time.
Thank you so much for this channel!
I thought I knew a lot about William Blake- but no, only now I understand the bodily gestures. I never knew all the details of his expressive body language displayed through the figurative artwork. Thank you for explaining!
This deeply moved me. THANK YOU. Can’t wait for the Blake on the Books channel to be released
Thank you so much for this channel. My soul is happier when I get to enjoy art on such a deep level because of your work.
I came across this artist that might be an interesting one. His name is Maxfield Parrish and his paintings are so beautiful and vibrant. I've never heard of him or seen his work before and perhaps could make it on this channel someday. I know you probably have more projects in mind right now but when you can Parrish is definitely someone I'd like to learn about from you.
I will check it out
Thanks for making me feel smart one video at the time ❤
No problem 😊
I got a couple of his books. But, it's nice to see all these pieces I didn't know about! That's typically how it is with your videos though. Bravo!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
It is worth noting, however, that Newton was NOT just a scientist in the modern sense; he was also deeply religious, attempting to find hidden messages in the Bible, and even dabbled in alchemy.
Yes. The idea of a Scientist in the modern sense is very different during Medieval and Enlightened times. To the learned, everything is all-encompassing. Natural science, Mathematics, Theology, and Philisophy equally studied and must go hand in hand with every theory or proposition.
Thank you, so much ! W. Blake is my "all time favorite" poet / individual.
Really great video.
I didn't know you had another channel!😮 IMMEDIATELY subscribed.
Thank you ! I knew William Blake was a man of words, but had no idea he was a painter!
The content you produce is outstanding! I wish someday in the future we could get a video about Sorolla, described by Monet as “the master of light”
Wow, I didn’t know anything about William Blake. He is fascinating, I’m almost surprised that he isn’t talked about more often.
Fantastic video, true quality content! Thank you, James!
This is one of my favourite channels on TH-cam!!!
I just love the outlook and flow!
Many thanks James Payne for your enormous generosity, you truly embody that generous spirit I found whilst studying Art History at Birkbeck. I wrote my thesis on madness and the enlightenment (professor William Vaughan always bright and kind was my tutor).
Many thanks for this wonderfully researched video on William Blake, it touched me at the core.
I've said it before , Merci de ne me pas laisse mourir idiot . Thank you James.
De rien!
As always, excellent video. I love how your explanations bring every work of art to life and make them clear to understand for the uninitiated like myself. Thank you!
I first encountered Blake through Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon, and I’ve been a fan of his ever since. Great video!
Thank you 🙏
“Energy is eternal delight.” Blake
Superb presentation as usual. Thank you.
So nice of you thanks 🙏
I can't tell you what these channels of yours means to me. Thank you.
As an artist myself I always appreciate these in depth videos you make about the art world, known artists and introducing us all to unknown artists with all the skillz and talent, it's ultra inspiring these are the type of videos with replay value I will continue watching all the videos you put up and rewatch all the videos I've already seen.... Thankyou for making these videos it's wonderful to know that there's still a community of people that appreciate artists and their art!
I appreciate that!
Please make a video about Norman Rockwell and other illustrators like Kurt Ard of their time.
Thank-you so much for your wonderful presentation and great research about William Blake's work. I was always fascinated by his style and content --really enjoyed this!
Phenomenal James. Thanks.
Deeply fascinating and enlightening. Many thanks James!
Loved this. Actually had no idea he was also a painter! Can’t wait for part two!
Excellent, great quality video, very well edited. Congratulations, sir!
Thank you very much!
Thank you for making all these high-quality contents! Because of your videos, I think I will be taking Art History next year!
Marvelous work! Cheers!
Many thanks!
Please keep up with your awesome content. You got me interested in art! Especially, the Garden of the Earthly Delights! One of my favorite pieces of art (although I am a beginner on the subject). Thank you!
Thank you! Will do!
I'm somewhat familiar with the writer, but I had no idea he also painted. I've even seen some of these images before. How strange. I'm going to have to watch "Dead Man" (1995) yet again with this in mind. Not that I have to be asked twice, it's my favourite film.
(EDIT: And "The Doors" my favourite band. I also recognize the other 2 images at the end, but not the fourth one with the angel wings.)
The fourth is a clip from His Dark Materials - Pullman idolises Blake
@@GreatArtExplained Many thanks.
Another excellent video. Although I’ve known his name and tiny glimpses of his talents, I realize I really knew nothing about him.
Enjoyable presentation. Subbed! Thank you.
Awesome 👍🎉😢thank you very much, indeed.
You're very welcome
Thanks.
A useful introduction.
Thank you for the video! Blake's works are so inspiring still in 21st century. Full of imagination.
I'd love to see you present Duchamp's 'The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even'. It's a unique piece of art and full of such symbolism. I've gone to see it twice in Philly.
Thanks for giving his wife credit!
Thank you so much!
Blake was an amazing being.. Thank you for sharing this great video..
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you so much for this video! I knew of him as a poet, but somehow I had no idea he did visual art too
Time for another research binge~
A neat comment, but an utterly superb contained brilliance on all fronts here. Bravo sir!
New Great Art Explained! Love this!
Interesting video! I never really thought of Blake as an artist, let alone put him in the category of "great artists" but its clear he led an interesting life and had a lot of opinions! To be honest, I'm a little skeptical of people who criticize science and rationality for "taking the mystery and wonder out of life" when scientific research has brought so many new discoveries and mysteries to us.
So interesting I didn't know much about him before this, thank you!
Fascinating. Thank you. Another historical character unappreciated in his own time, his genius overlooked or ridiculed because he marched to the beat of a different drum. Ironic, though, that Blake railed against the oppression of reason and scientific thought to the point that his obsession with rebelling against them nearly ruled his life.