SAN FRANCISCO—On Friday, October 14, the William Blake Gallery had its opening reception in San Francisco. The exhibition consisted of works by the painter, printmaker, and poet, and is the largest gallery devoted to William Blake in the world.

Notable bodies of work by Blake included Illustrations to Dante’s Inferno, The Complaint of Job and Songs of Innocence: “Holy Thursday.”

Blake is considered an influential British artist of the Romantic and Pre-Romantic eras. He explored metaphysical, spiritual, and expressive themes, much of his works have been considered allegorical. During his lifetime, he was misunderstood by both contemporaries and consumers and held in high regard in the art world after his death because of the highly original nature of his works.

He is also accredited by author Joseph Viscomi as having invented the process of relief etching, that differed from the mainstream form of intaglio that was commonly used. Blake used relief etching as a means of producing a quicker fashion than intaglio would have allowed, and he utilized this method for the majority of his works.

Opened by John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller, the gallery is located on Geary Street and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.