Manchester

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William Blake at the Whitworth

William Blake's legacy comes under the microscope in this exciting exhibition at one of Manchester's most diverse galleries

Long one of Manchester’s best-kept secrets, the Whitworth Art Gallery has quietly been raising its game of late. A series of high-profile, intelligent art shows – ranging from Lynn Hershman Leeson to an acclaimed wallpaper design exhibition – have pulled in new punters to one of the city’s oldest galleries, and this spring’s William Blake exhibition is no exception.

The show attempts to reveal the lasting influence of the revolutionary Blake on generations of artists, writers, musicians and filmmakers. So while a good number of historical works sit alongside Blake’s own, with pieces from Ford Madox Brown, Walter Crane, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the exhibition is far from a dusty academic affair. Blurring the boundaries between artistic disciplines and eras, the Whitworth has pulled in more recent works from artists as diverse as Turner Prize-winners Anish Kapoor and Douglas Gordon. The curators have also illustrated the impact of Blake’s thinking on filmmakers such as Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant plus a swathe of musicians, ranging from Benjamin Britten to Jah Wobble. The Whitworth’s show is a chance to reappraise Blake and his legacy, almost 200 years after his death.

Blake’s Shadow: William Blake and his Artistic Legacy, Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road, M15 6ER (275 7450/www.manchester.ac.uk/whitworth). Jan 26-Apr 6; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, midday-4pm Sun; free.

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