Art Study William Blake The Ghost Of A Flea

Preston, England
September 10, 2018 4:47pm CST
Created in 1819-20, this is one of the most frightening and Gothic paintings ever created. Human ghosts seem scary enough, but Blake had a vision of the demonic ghost of a flea. He was given to strange visions to the point of danger of being sent to an insane asylum. The flea's ghost is gigantic, unlike the live flea. It looks part human, part reptiliian and utterly malevolent. It lumbers naked through a bedroom, with night stars visible through the curtains. It carries a vessel for collecting blood, and seems somewhat vampiric. Very scary work. Arthur Chappell
Artwork page for ‘The Ghost of a Flea’, William Blake, c.1819-20 on display at Tate Britain. John Varley – an artist, astrologer and close friend of Blake – reported in his Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy (1882) that Blake once had a spiritual vision of a
8 people like this
7 responses
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57233)
•
10 Sep 18
Who would buy a painting like that I wonder.
3 people like this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
11 Sep 18
@Kandae11 handy to put in the guest bedroom if you don't like your guests and hope they'll leave soon
2 people like this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57233)
•
11 Sep 18
1 person likes this
Jo Ann
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
11 Sep 18
@arthurchappell I think that pictures in your house have an influence on the life of the home. You can make it good with positive pictures or make it bad with pictures like the one in your post.
1 person likes this
Jo Ann
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
10 Sep 18
They believed that fleas were the souls of bloodthirsty men. I never looked at it like that. I thought they are nasty creatures to get rid of as soon as possible. In a way, that fits.
2 people like this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
11 Sep 18
@akalinus they are bad enough small and alive certainly
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
11 Sep 18
@akalinus me too
1 person likes this
Jo Ann
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
11 Sep 18
@arthurchappell The picture of the ghost of a flea is scary. I would not like to meet that thing, ever.
1 person likes this
Kristen Howe
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
11 Sep 18
That painting does look a bit creepy to me.
1 person likes this
Elizabeth
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
11 Sep 18
I think he must have liked his opiates.
2 people like this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
11 Sep 18
@Poppylicious he was very probably on something
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Sep 18
Interesting picture. I'm sure it was scary back when he painted this, but with all the art and media today, this looks tame to me. He's a very good artist bringing his visions to life like that.
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
12 Sep 18
@just4him yes Blake is exceptional
1 person likes this
Diana B.
@BloggerDi (3121)
• United States
11 Sep 18
Wow, fascinating art! Yes, it's somewhat disturbing, but I enjoyed learning about the painting and the artist.
2 people like this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
11 Sep 18
@BloggerDi Blake's work is great
1 person likes this
A A
@anya12adwi (10292)
• India
12 Sep 18
Have you had visions of demons?? I never had though..