Frederick Tatham Paintings

Frederick Tatham was an English artist, architect, and associate of the Romantic poet and artist William Blake. Born in 1805 in London, he was the son of Charles Heathcote Tatham, an architect, which influenced Frederick's early interest in the field of architecture. Throughout his life, Tatham moved in literary and artistic circles, cultivating relationships with important figures of his time.

Tatham initially trained as an architect and exhibited architectural drawings at the Royal Academy, but his interests eventually expanded to include sculpture and painting. His artistic style was heavily influenced by Blake, whom he befriended in the later years of Blake's life. Tatham became one of Blake's disciples, known as the 'Ancients' – a group of young artists who were deeply inspired by Blake's visionary approach to art and poetry.

After Blake's death in 1827, Tatham became an executor of his will and took on the responsibility of preserving Blake's works. He inherited a substantial collection of Blake's art and manuscripts, which he subsequently edited and published, helping to preserve Blake's legacy. Unfortunately, Tatham's religious beliefs, which skewed towards a form of Christian fundamentalism, led him to destroy some of Blake's works that he considered heretical or blasphemous. This act has been much lamented by historians and Blake enthusiasts, as it resulted in the loss of significant pieces of Blake's oeuvre.

Despite his controversial handling of Blake's works, Tatham continued to work as an artist and architect. He was involved in the Gothic Revival movement in architecture, which sought to revive medieval Gothic architectural forms during the 19th century. However, Tatham's architectural contributions have been largely overshadowed by his association with Blake and his role in the preservation and destruction of Blake's works.

Tatham's art and architectural works were moderately received during his lifetime. He lacked the fame and impact of some of his contemporaries, and his legacy is primarily tied to his relationship with William Blake. Frederick Tatham died in 1878. His life and work remain of interest primarily to scholars of Romanticism and those studying the life and influence of William Blake.