William Blake’s Illustrations for Milton’s Paradise Lost, 1808 – Design You Trust

William Blake’s Illustrations for Milton’s Paradise Lost, 1808

Satan Arousing the Rebel Angels

William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) created three sets of illustrations for John Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667). There was a commission from the Reverend Joseph Thomas in 1807; another a year later commissioned by the artist’s patron Thomas Butts; and a final series in 1822, commissioned by John Linnell, who also hired Blake to illustrate Dante’s Divine Comedy.

More: William Blake Archive h/t: flashbak

Satan, Sin, and Death: Satan Comes to the Gates of Hell

The first two sets each contained twelve paintings. The Thomas set is in pen and watercolour; the Butts set is more vividly coloured and almost twice the size of the earlier set. The final set was unfinished, with just three images known to have been completed.

Christ accepting the Office of Redeemer (Book 3, l. 227). Satan floats below God and his angels, with a spear in his hand

It’s clear that Blake admired Milton. According to Alexander Gilchrist’s Life of William Blake, ‘Pictor ignotus’ (1863), Butts found Blake and his wife in their summer house in Lambeth, London, nude and reciting parts of the poem. Blake reportedly hailed, “Come in! … It’s only Adam and Eve, you know!”

Satan Watching the Endearments of Adam and Eve

Raphael Warns Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve Asleep

The Rout of the Rebel Angels

The Creation of Eve

The Temptation and Fall of Eve

The Judgment of Adam and Eve: ‘So Judged He Man’

Michael Foretells the Crucifixion

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Oh, Design You Trust,' our brand new Facebook page! Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

"Memes of the Floating World": Artist Recreates Favorite Memes In Japanese Print Styles
What’s Wrong With Today’s Society Captured In 32 Brutally Honest Illustrations By John Holcroft
22 Cartoons That Show How COVID-19 Affected Our Lives
Inspiring Examples Of Logo Animations Created By The Design Duo
Brilliant Set Of Illusional Artworks Showing The Real Meaning Of The Word "Creativity"
"Transgenesis": Giusy Amoroso’s Vivid Digital Imagery Takes Nature to Its Most Beautiful Extremes
Creative Photo Manipulations Of Animals By Indonesian Digital Artist Aditya Aryanto
Artist Turns Total Strangers Into Awesome Anime Characters
Artist Turns Her Lucid Dreams Into Whimsical Paintings
"In Final Diaboli": Fantastic 3D Occult Hyperreal Sculpting by Archangel
French Artist Adds Celebrities Into Classical Paintings
This Is What Disney Princesses Look Like In Their Old Age
Beautiful Award-Winning Photos Of The HIPA Contest That Will Make You Appreciate The Natural World
The ABCs of College
The Badass And Chilling Watercolor Paintings Of Misha Vyrtsev
A Gruesome Living Billboard, Swarmed By The Undead, Popped Up In London
This Photoshop Wizard Is Turning Random People’s Photos Into Movie Posters
Creative And Dreamlike Photo Manipulations By Josh Pierce
Amazing Vintage Photos Of Betty Broadbent, The ‘Tattooed Venus’ From The Late 1930s
Madness as Art: Superb Comic Art by Lee Bermejo
Baroque Model Portraits Wearing A Helmet: Superb Paintings By Lúcio Carvalho
Inspiring Photo Quotes By Alander Wong
Artist Turns Her 2-Year-Old’s Sketches Into Paintings
Woman Wears Bizarre Costumes While Walking Her Dog During The Quarantine And He Looks Embarrassed