DUBLIN.- The National Gallery of Ireland is presenting a new major exhibition William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy. This loan exhibition from Tate, curated in partnership with the National Gallery of Ireland, presents a selection of Blake’s most iconic works of art, alongside paintings and drawings by his contemporaries. It offers a rare opportunity to encounter one of the most visionary figures in art and literature. The exhibition runs from 16 April - 19 July 2026 at the Gallery.

William Blake (1757-1827) is a singular force in the history of art. Poet, painter and printmaker, he created a visionary universe of mythic beings and prophetic scenes, exploring heaven and hell through a language entirely his own. In a world shaped by revolution and social upheaval, Blake and his peers pushed art into bold new territories using the power of the creative imagination.

Wildly unconventional in terms of both technique and thought, Blake developed a distinctive visual language to explore opposing forces of creation and destruction, reason and imagination. His inventive works have resonated far beyond his own era. Blake’s influence continues to echo through contemporary culture, inspiring musicians such as U2, Bob Dylan and Patti Smith; filmmakers including Ridley Scott and Martin Scorsese; writers from J.G. Ballard to Allen Ginsberg; and designers such as Una Burke, whose work features in a special three-piece collaboration accompanying the exhibition in the Gallery’s gift shop.

Opening with a selection of Blake’s iconic large colour prints, William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy immediately immerses visitors in the drama and visionary intensity that defines his work. These striking images introduce the exhibition’s central themes, which unfold across a series of sections that place key works by Blake alongside paintings and drawings by the artists he admired and those who were inspired by him. By placing Blake in a wider context of originality and experimentation, the exhibition offers a compelling insight into a transformative moment in European art. It provides a window into uniquely imaginative works of art that address many topics that are as urgent and relevant today as they were during the Romantic period.

Patrick O’Donovan, TD, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport said: “I wish to commend the National Gallery in staging this amazing exhibition, celebrating some of the most iconic works of William Blake. I would like to thank the National Gallery and their curating partner institution, Tate, who have loaned works for this exhibition, offering a unique opportunity for the public to enjoy works of Blake and some of his contemporaries from the Romantic era. My Department continues to support the work of our national cultural institutions in continuing to showcase Ireland as a leader on the world stage in terms of arts and culture.”

Speaking on the opening of the exhibition, Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said: “It is very exciting to continue our partnership with our colleagues at Tate and present the work of William Blake alongside his contemporaries in this major exhibition. The impact that Blake and the era of Romanticism have had on Western art cannot be overstated. William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy allows our visitors to explore a familiar name in much greater depth. We hope that it will inspire and delight all who visit the National Gallery of Ireland during spring-summer 2026. I also take this opportunity to thank our Partners at Tate, the supporters of our William Blake Giving Circle and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for their ongoing support.”

Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the National Gallery of Ireland said: “William Blake is such an iconic figure in art and literature. I am delighted that our visitors will be able to enjoy a selection of his work in context, alongside that of his fellow artists. Many people are aware that he wrote the poem The Tyger, but know little else about him. This exhibition will provide a window into the richness of Blake’s imagination and his innovation as an artist.”

Alice Insley, Curator British Art, 1730-1850 at Tate, said: “William Blake is today celebrated for the great originality and vision of his art and poetry. Yet he was not alone in giving his imagination free rein. This exhibition shows Blake’s extraordinary works alongside paintings and drawings by his contemporaries – those who he admired and those who he inspired – to reveal how British art was taken in exciting new directions in this moment. We are delighted to be able to share these works from Tate’s collection with visitors to the National Gallery of Ireland and hope that they will continue to inspire across the centuries.”