Early Life and Influences Sir William Blake Richmond (1842–1921) was born at 10 York Street, London, England on November 29, 1842. His formative years were profoundly shaped by his association with The Ancients, a group of artists and writers captivated by the visionary poetry of William Blake. This influence permeated Richmond’s early artistic endeavors, evident in paintings such as “Abel the Shepherd” and “Christ and the Woman of Samaria,” exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1825. These works showcased a preoccupation with mythological narratives and spiritual symbolism—a direct reflection of…