The Museum of Fine Arts presents The Marriage of Heaven and Hell – William Blake and His Contemporaries, an exhibition drawing on the collection of the Tate in London and showcasing some of the most significant works by the poet and painter William Blake.

William Blake (1757–1827) was a major figure in British visual art and literature whose visionary drawings, paintings, and, not least, poetry have inspired generations. His exceptionally original art and poetic vision continue to be a source of inspiration today. Emotions and irrationality also preoccupied other contemporary British artists, many of whom pursued strongly subjective themes and explored ideas of spiritual renewal or forms of escape. Like Blake, they were responding to a turbulent world.

The emergence of Romanticism in Great Britain was shaped by a number of historical forces, including the humiliating defeat in the American War of Independence, the world-shaking impact of the French and Haitian revolutions of the 1790s, the hardships of prolonged wars with France, years of domestic political and social unrest, and the rapid pace of technological and industrial development. The art of Blake and his contemporaries offers a compelling insight into the spirit of this era.

Curator: Alice Insley (Tate)
Co-curator: Csilla Regős (Museum of Fine Arts)

On view until: 11 January 2026

(Cover image:William Blake – Museum of Fine Arts)