Dr Sibylle Erle is a Visiting Scholar at the University of Lincoln. Her research interests include William Blake, death and monsters. She is the author of ‘Blake, Lavater and Physiognomy’ (2010) and co-editor of ‘The Reception of William Blake in Europe’ (2019). She was co-curator of ‘Blake and Physiognomy’ at Tate Britain, and is a Trustee of The Blake Society.

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Image credit: Sibylle Erle

Sibylle Erle

Speaker

Marina Sossi is a multimedia artist, director and performer based in London. She has toured internationally, facilitated masterclasses and directed performances in theatre, opera and music.

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Image credit: Marina Sossi

Marina Sossi

marina-sossi.com

Facilitator

<p>A chance to hear about and talk about ideas with others.</p>

Discussion

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Discussion event in the Reading Room

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Event in the Reading Room

Key visual elements referred to during this event will be described.

This event will be audio described for blind or partially sighted people.

Audio described

We’ll be in the Reading Room on level 2. You can walk up the spiral staircase to the Reading Room door, or take the lift up and then head left from the Library Desk.

Reading Room

Booking a ticket for a free event does not guarantee you a place. You should aim to arrive 15 minutes before the event is scheduled to start to claim your place. If you do not arrive on time, your place may be given to someone on the waiting list.

Place not guaranteed

Library Insights

William Blake’s Phantom Face

Join historian Sibylle Erle as she discusses ‘The Ghost of a Flea’, a fantastical painting by artist and poet William Blake. The subject of the painting is a monstrous amalgamation of man and flea, which was inspired by a spiritual vision. Dr Erle will explore themes related to the work, such as astrology and its connection to human appearance and personality, vampirism, and Blake’s mystical circle of acquaintances. You’ll be able to ask questions during the talk. 

After the talk you’ll have the opportunity to join a creative workshop with artist Marina Sossi to explore your own reactions to the painting and to examples of Blake’s works from our collections.  

A limited number of tickets are available for this event.

Join a discussion about William Blake’s painting ‘The Ghost of a Flea’, followed by an artist-led creative workshop to explore your reactions to Blake’s fantastical image.

Wellcome Collection

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