World Dream Bank home - add a dream - newest - art gallery - sampler - dreams by title, subject, author, date, place, names

The Man who Taught Blake Painting in his Dreams

Recurring dreams, before 1819, by William Blake

William Blake... had recurring dreams of a supernatural art instructor with a third eye in his forehead. The instructor presented the dreaming Blake with images to paint and advised him on technique. Awake, Blake made numerous oil colors of the recommended scenes. He sketched his teacher in the straightforwardly titled Man Who Instructed Blake in Painting in his Dreams, 1819.

William Blake: sketch of man who taught him in his dreams.
SOURCE: Deirdre Barrett's The Committee of Sleep (2001) pp.3-4.

EDITOR'S NOTE

I'm a little wary here. He doesn't look to me like he has a third eye on his forehead. More like a dinky rosebush... And Barrett doesn't cite her source, and nearby pages have minor errors--dates, titles, biographical details. On the other hand, the piece and its (approximate) title and (approximate) date are certainly real; for decades this drawing's popped up in any search including "Blake" and "dreams". I just doubt Barrett's details. If and when I find her source, I'll add it.

--Chris Wayan


LISTS AND LINKS: William Blake - mentors & teachers - artists & the arts - creativity - advice - third eyes? - work - more from Deirdre Barrett

World Dream Bank homepage - Art gallery - New stuff - Introductory sampler, best dreams, best art - On dreamwork - Books
Indexes: Subject - Author - Date - Names - Places - Art media/styles
Titles: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - IJ - KL - M - NO - PQ - R - Sa-Sh - Si-Sz - T - UV - WXYZ
Email: wdreamb@yahoo.com - Catalog of art, books, CDs - Behind the Curtain: FAQs, bio, site map - Kindred sites