William Blake in Sussex. Vision Of Albion

Gallery of Petworth house in the English County of Sussex celebrates the poet and painter of the romantic era William Blake who was underappreciated during his lifetime, and after his death was called a prophet. One of the main exhibits "Visions Of Albion" was the picture, which for decades was located in a dark corner of the library of Petworth. The estate, which Blake spent three years, was the only place where he lived outside London.

The exhibition includes paintings, courtesy of the British Museum, the Tate gallery, the Victoria and albert Museum, as well as rare surviving copies of Blake's books.

The manor of Petworth owns the most interesting collection of his works. Among them the two paintings, the last judgement (1808) and "Satan calling his legions (CA. 1800 — 1805). The first has a very unusual character — a woman surrounded by a halo of babies, and sitting in front of an artist who paints her portrait. Most likely, Blake has depicted himself and ordered it watercolor Elizabeth Iliff and her six children.

Another piece with an interesting history is a watercolor "Sea of time and space" (1821) depicting a scene on the beach. Found her in the pantry maid in the estate of Arlington Court in 1947 when the house was transferred to the National Fund. Why and how the figure was there, is not known.