William Blake Poster: Ghost of a Flea Poster

This is a quality reproduction of "The Ghost of a Flea," created by the famous English poet, artist and philosopher William Blake. Blake created this image as a small tempera painting with gold leaf on a mahogany panel, 8 7/16 in. x 6 3/8 in. (21.4 x 16.2 cm). It resides in London's Tate Gallery. The bloodthirsty spirit of a tiny flea—the winged creature on the floor between its legs—directs its jutting tongue towards a bowl of blood. Blake based the painting on a pencil sketch of the creature's head and may have intended the stage-like setting as an homage to Varley's astrological interests. Blake preferred his own distinctive tempera technique—labelled beneath the signature as "fresco"—for its translucency, depth, even tones, and clear contours, qualities that have altered somewhat over time." "The Ghost of a Flea" has been professionally restored by us and is available as a poster or a print. A number of framing options are available.