William Blake (1757–1827), born in London, was an English poet, painter, and engraver. Trained as an engraver, he produced his poetry as illuminated books that he hand-lettered and illustrated, among them Songs of Innocence (1789) and Songs of Experience (1794). His longer prophetic works include The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (c. 1790) and Milton (c. 1804–1811). Largely unrecognized as a poet during his lifetime, he is now regarded as a foundational figure of Romanticism.
