William Blake's boyhood doodles are discovered after 250 years: Scans reveal a smiley face etched by the poet on copperplates he handled as an apprentice READ MORE: Copy of William Blake' poetry book sells for a stunning £3.4million By Shivali Best For Mailonline Published: 09:41, 23 October 2024 | Updated: 09:51, 23 October 2024 e-mail 3 View comments He's widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of all time. But it seems that even William Blake was prone to doodling as a child.
Scientists have discovered a series of boyhood doodles engraved on copperplates by Blake around 250 years ago. One of the previously unknown doodles depicts an arrow - a frequent motif across Blake's works. Meanwhile, another doodle depicts a miniature face.
'When I first saw the face, it was a staggering moment. I almost fell off my chair,' said Mark Crosby, a Blake expert who found the engravings. 'I was looking back at something that had been made 250-odd years ago that hadn't been seen before.
' Scientists have discovered a series of boyhood doodles engraved on copper plates by Blake around 250 years ago. One doodle depicts a miniature face Blake's poem 'And did those feet in ancient time', better known as 'Jerusalem', is often considered England's unofficial national anthem, while 'The Tyger' is a staple of English textbooks. But before his poetry career took off, Blake had worked as an apprentice to engraver James Basire.
Mr Basire made pictorial prints - one of the main ways to print illus.
