Observe Newton After Blake. Here stands a monumental bronze sculpture, a testament to the fusion of art and science. Eduardo Paolozzi created it in 1995.
Newton After Blake sits proudly outside the British Library. The sculpture rests on a high plinth, demanding attention. It’s often referred to simply as Newton.
This artwork draws inspiration from William Blake’s 1795 print. Blake’s print shows a nude Isaac Newton. He sits on a ledge, measuring with compasses. Blake’s work critiques Newton’s focus on reason. Blake thought Newton was ignoring nature.
Paolozzi admired Blake’s print. He had seen it at the Tate Gallery in the 1940s. Paolozzi was friends with Colin St John Wilson. Wilson designed the British Library. Wilson wanted a sculpture in the library’s piazza. Paolozzi was commissioned to create Newton After Blake. The library was built between 1982 and 1999. The sculpture was installed in 1995.
Paolozzi’s Newton After Blake includes a self-portrait. He portrays himself as the nude Newton. He is measuring the universe. The sculpture’s eyes are inspired by Michelangelo’s David. This symbolizes the merging of art and science. It shows how Newton changed our world view. He made it one defined by mathematical laws.
The body resembles a mechanical object. Bolts join it at the shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles. The sculpture reveals Paolozzi’s technique. He divided his model and reassembled the pieces. You can see it on the head.
The full-size Newton After Blake sculpture stands 12 feet high. It is mounted on a plinth. The Morris Singer foundry cast the bronze. The Foundation for Sport and the Arts funded it. It was listed as Grade I in 2015, recognizing the library’s significance.
Paolozzi gifted a maquette to the Royal Society in 1995. A bronze model from 1988 is held by the Tate Gallery. Other similar sculptures exist. One is Master of the Universe in Edinburgh. Another is Concept of Newton in Hong Kong.
Paolozzi’s Newton After Blake doesn’t judge. It unites science and art. It shows concentration and dedication. Paolozzi’s work fits perfectly here. It represents the overlapping relationship between science and art.