Todd Ruthven. William Blake: The Artist

Studio Vista, Dutton Pictureback, 1971. - 164 p.Although many books have been written about William Blake, it is strange that, until now, so little attention has been paid to his work as a technical innovator. Ruthven Todd has been collecting information about Blake as a technical man for many years and here offers a short report upon his findings. Experimenting over the last twenty-three years, he has not been content to take any statement, unless made by Blake, as a correct explanation. He has also read widely the technical material which would have been available to Blake.
This book, which presents a much shortened and simplified version of some of Ruthven Todd's findings to the present date, is the first to deal with this fascinating aspect of Blake and the first to give creditable explanations of many elusive points which have worried the experts.
Known widely as a poet and Blake scholar, Ruthven Todd started life as a student at Edinburgh Art College before giving up this pursuit in favor of writing. In 1947 in Hayter's famous Atelier 17, he had the opportunity to try out the methods used by Blake in his illuminated printing, with the enthusiastic collaboration of Joan Miro. Author of many books of both prose (Tracks in the Snow) and poetry, Ruthven Todd edited Gilchrist's Life of William Blake for Everyman's Library in 1942 and again in 1945. At present he is engaged in preparing a completely revised edition, embodying all the new information that has come to light during the last twenty-five years.