William Blake: The Ghost of a Flea | Custom Print | Tate Shop

Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site.

Product added to wishlist

View wishlist

William Blake

The Ghost of a Flea,

Read all reviews

From

£30

Join as a Member and save 10%

About the artwork

William Blake believed he had visions of spiritual entities throughout his life, and this painting is the result of one of these ‘visitations’. The artist and astrologer John Varley reported that Blake had painted the figure as he saw him, ‘his eager tongue whisking out of his mouth, a cup in his hands to hold blood and covered with a scaly skin of gold and green’, and that the flea spirit told him that all fleas were inhabited by the souls of men who were ‘by nature bloodthirsty to excess’. Blake also completed a head study and a full-figure sketch of the flea spirit.

Abstract Art

Artist William Blake
Artwork The Ghost of a Flea
Credit Original: Tempera and gold on mahogany 21.4 x 16.2 cm Tate. Bequeathed by W. Graham Robertson 1949

ABOUT THE ARTIST

William Blake (1757–1827) was an English painter and poet of mystical themes, conveyed in complex figurative imagery. Blake trained as an engraver and had a career in etching, engraving and illustration. Although he exhibited his watercolours at the Academy from 1780 he railed against academic art, insisting instead on individual inspiration. His own style was influenced by Gothic sculpture and Michelangelo’s figures. In the 1820s Blake was commissioned to illustrate Dante’s Divine Comedy. By his death he had received little public recognition, but he was popularised in the 19th century by the Pre-Raphaelites, especially Rossetti.

DELIVERIES AND RETURNS

Delivery times

We aim to deliver custom prints within 2-4 weeks. As each print is handmade to order they take a little longer to prepare. We’ll dispatch your order as soon as it is ready, separately from any other items.

We currently offer free standard delivery on all UK orders over £60. Here’s more information on delivery.

Refunds and returns

As custom prints are made to order, unfortunately we cannot accept returns if you have changed your mind or made a mistake. If we have made a mistake, or there is a problem with your order, then please contact our customer service team at shop@tate.org.uk.

Here’s more information on refunds & returns.

Reviews

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When will my order be delivered?

We aim to deliver your made-to-order custom print within 1-2 weeks for UK orders, and within 2-4 weeks for international delivery. You can see an estimated delivery date on the product page, on the green banner above the size and frame options.

Our custom prints are produced and shipped directly from our print workshop and arrive separately to all other items. You can learn more about delivery here.

I've made a mistake, can I amend my order?

The best thing to do is email us as soon as possible at shop@tate.org.uk or call us on +44 (0)207 887 8888 with your order number, ideally within 24 hours. Please note that as custom prints are made to order, if production has already started, we won’t be able to make any amendments to the print itself, but we can change your delivery name and address if the order has not been dispatched yet.

I've changed my mind, can I cancel my order?

As custom prints are made to order, unfortunately you can’t cancel your order after production has started (typically within 24 hours). If you get in touch with us within 24 hours, our team will check on the status of your order and do whatever they can to help you out.

Can I return my print?

Because our prints and frames are made to order, custom prints can only be returned if they’re faulty or we’ve made a mistake. If this is the case, please contact us straight away with details and images of the problem, so we can arrange for a refund or replacement for you. You can find further information regarding refunds and returns here.

About Our Prints

Our custom prints are high-quality, made-to-order fine art print reproductions of Tate collection and exhibition artworks. Available in a choice of sizes and hand-made frames, they’re created using state of the art technology and sustainably sourced materials by our Sussex-based print specialists.