1757
November 28: William Blake is born. Baptized in St. James' Church.

1760
John Blake is born.

1761
William Blake, at age 4, sees a vision of God's Head in a window.

1762
Richard Blake is born. Dies in infancy.

1764
Catherine Blake, William's only sister, is born.
Robert Blake is born.
William, at age 10, begins taking drawing lessons at Henry Par's Academy in the Strand.

1767
Blake begins writing Poetical Sketches.

1768
Begins work for James Basire, engraver.

1771
Blake's first engraving: "Joseph of Arimathea amoung the Rocks of Albion"

1774
Blake sketches "The Body of Edward I in his Coffin".

1779
Leaves Basire.
At the age of 21, Blake enters the Royal Academy.
Engraving: "Edward and Elenor"
Watercolour: "Penance of Jane Shore in St. Paul's Church"
Watercolour: "Lear and Cordelia in Prison"

1780
Exhibition of the watercolour:"The Death of Earl Godwin" at the Royal Academy.
Draws "Glad Day".

1782
August: Blake marries Catherine Boucher.
50 copies of Poetical Sketches printed.

1783
July: Death of Blake's Father.

1786
Drawings: Job, his Wife, and his Friends
Drawings: Job's Wife and Other Sketches

1787
February: Robert dies at age 19.
In a vision, Robert shows William a new method of engraving.

1788
"There is no Natural Religion".
"All Religions are One".

1789
Engraves: Songs of Innocence.
Writes: The Book of Thel in 8 plates.
Engraving: 'The Beggar's Opera, Act III' after William Hogarth

1790
Drawing: The House of Death
Illustrates: Wollstonecraft's Original Stories from Real Life.
Begins: America.

1791
September: Death of Blake's Mother.
Writes: A Song of Liberty.

1793
Writes: America
Visions of the Daughters of Albion

1794
Writes: The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.
Writes: The Songs of Experience
Songs of Innocence and of Experience published
Engraves: Europe.
Engraves: The Book of Urizen.
Writes: The Book of Los.
Writes: Song of Los
Watercolour: Christ Appearing to the Apostles After the Resurrection
Watercolour: Newton
Begins: Vala.
Exhibits "The Last Supper" at the Royal Academy.
Watercolour: The Body of Abel Found By Adam and Eve

1804
Writes: Milton, a Poem.

1807
Illustrations to Paradise Lost
The Temptation of Christ
Exhibition of the Watercolour: Jacob's Dream and the watercolour: Christ in the Sepulchre, Gaurded by Angels, at the
Royal Academy.

1809
Engraves: Milton.
The Whore of Babylon
Vala renamed The Four Zoas.
Works on the text of Jerusalem.
Begins engraving of Canterbury Pilgrims

1814
Six Illustrations to John Milton's "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity"

1815
L'Allegro.

1816
Designs for Il Penseroso.

1820
First Copy of Jerusalem printed.
On Homer's Poetry
Old Parr When Young
On Virgil

1821
Watercolors: Job series
Writes: The Ghost of Abel, Blake's last illuminated book.
Watercolour: Epitome of James Hervey's 'Meditations Amoung the Tombs'

1824
Designs: Pilgrim's Progress.
Death of James Blake.
Watercolour: Moses placed in the Ark of Bulrushes

1825
Finishes: Job.
Begins: Dante drawings.
Virgin & Child
(Black Madonna)

1826
March: publication of Job.
Tempera: The Body of Abel Found By Adam and Eve
Tempera: Satan Smiting Job with Sore Boils
Title Page for an Illustrated Manuscript of Genesis

1827
Begins: Dante engravings.
Colours: Ancient of Days.
August 12: 6 PM: Death of William Blake.

1831
October 18: Death of Catherine Blake

 


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