{"product_id":"the-ghost-of-a-flea-william-blake","title":"The Ghost of a Flea - William Blake","description":"\u003cp\u003eA haunting tempera painting by William Blake, depicting a visionary creature born from the artist's own supernatural experiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilliam Blake produced The Ghost of a Flea during a period of intense visionary activity. The work originated from a series of 'visionary heads' that Blake claimed to see during séances with his friend and patron, the painter John Varley. According to Varley, Blake described the flea as a creature possessed by the bloodthirsty spirit of a man, which required a bowl to catch the blood it craved. The figure is depicted in a profile stance, stepping between two heavy curtains that suggest a theatrical stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlake utilised tempera on a mahogany panel, incorporating gold leaf to provide a metallic sheen to the background and the creature's scales. The figure itself is muscular and reptilian, with a small, pointed head and a gaping mouth. Its posture is deliberate, conveying a sense of predatory movement. The background features stars, which add to the cosmic or otherworldly atmosphere of the scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work is characteristic of Blake's rejection of the rationalism prevalent in the Enlightenment. He preferred to draw from his internal imagination rather than direct observation of the physical world. The composition is tightly controlled, focusing the viewer's attention on the grotesque anatomy of the subject. The use of gold leaf reflects Blake's interest in medieval illumination and his desire to elevate his visionary subjects to the status of icons. The work remains one of the most singular examples of British Romanticism, demonstrating the artist's unique ability to translate his internal hallucinations into a tangible, physical form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/products\/redding-op-zee-rescue-at-sea-jacob-eduard-van-heemskerck-van-beest\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eRedding op zee (Rescue at Sea) - Jacob Eduard van Heemskerck van Beest — Jacob Eduard van Heemskerck van Beest\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/products\/que-viene-el-coco-francisco-de-goya\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eQue viene el Coco - Francisco de Goya — Francisco de Goya\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"William Blake","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58857285222735,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58857345024335,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58857345057103,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Ghost-of-a-Flea_Poster_CompositorV1_1790110715029.jpg?v=1790119193","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/sv\/products\/the-ghost-of-a-flea-william-blake","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}