After Blake's Newton

The sculptures of Newton after Blake, in relief and free-standing form, date from 1987-88. The monumental Newton for the courtyard of the British Library was unveiled in the summer of 1997. Paolozzi wrote, 'The 1795 image of Sir Isaac Newton by William Blake in the Tate Gallery has fascinated me for many years. Blake shows Newton surrounded by the glories of nature but, oblivious to the beauty, concentrates on reducing the universe to mathematical dimensions. Blake was no admirer of Newton and meant this work to be a critical assessment of the scientist's preoccupations. The work says different things to me. Here we have the work of two British geniuses presenting to us simulataneously nature and science - welded, interconnecting, interdependent. The link is the classically beautiful body of Newton crouched in a position reminiscent of Rodin's Thinker. Newton sits on nature, using it as a base for his work. His back is bent in work, not submission, and his figure echoes the shape of rock and coral. He is part of nature' (R. Spencer (ed.), Eduardo Paolozzi Writings and Interviews, Oxford, 2000, p. 322).