William Blake detested painting in oils; the Earl was not a fan of watercolour. However, he had a mistress, Elizabeth Ilife, who from the age of sixteen bore him nine children, finally married him in 1803 and divorced him two years later, fed up with his infidelities (rich, innit!) She was the daughter of a printer and obviously intelligent and artistic. She commissioned three paintings from Blake, with whom she got on well. Satan Calling Up His Legions was on display, but was very dark and not well lit, so I did not photograph it. This 1808 painting, A Vision of the Last Judgement, which measures about 50cm x 40cm, is also out of the direct daylight (an attendant lit it for us with a torch while explaining its points). So you have God at the top, Adam and Eve below him, and Blake just to the left of the two tilted central figures. The female figure with children to Blake's left is assumed to be Elizabeth herself. Above the cave of Hell sits The Harlot, and Hell itself is an image of the female uterus. The painting is in ink and almost monochrome watercolour. The Earl actually bought Blake's painting of The Faerie Queen, as Spenser's epic poem was a big hit; if it was on display, we missed it.
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