Satan in his Original Glory: ‘Thou wast Perfect till Iniquity was Found in Thee’ c. 1805

Editor: Here we have William Blake's "Satan in his Original Glory," housed at the Tate. The watercolor feels both powerful and delicate, like a memory of something immense. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: It’s like peering into Blake's visionary mind. To me, it's a portrait of potential, a moment before the fall. The light radiating from Satan, those almost hesitant wings, speak volumes about the tragic beauty of choice. Isn't there a strange tenderness in his expression? Editor: Yes, it's not the face of a monster, but of someone capable of immense good or ill. I see what you mean. Curator: Exactly! And that's what makes it so compelling. It's a reminder that even in darkness, there's a flicker of light, a whisper of what could have been.