From the magazine "THE WEEK" Nov. 5, 2004 health and science section:

Michelangelo's sculpture of David is almost anatomically perfect. The biblical hero's muscular tension is precisely rendered, down to the muscular contraction on his forehead. Even David's genitals, which are on the modest size, are anatomically correct for a male in "pre-fight tension," Massimo Gulisano and Pietro Bernabei of Florence University tell Discovery.com. David, after all, was about to challenge Goliath with his sling. Yet the researchers found one flaw: David has a hole in his back. Their computer measurements of David's body revealed a hollow where a muscle should be, between the spine and the shoulder blade on the right side of his back. "The artist achieved an absolute perfection, except for that muscle in the back," says Gulisano. But Michelangelo was apparently aware of the oversight. In one of the artist's letters, Gulisano says, he mentions that a defect in the marble block made it impossible to reproduce every muscle. Michelangelo's "David", considered by many to be the world's most important sculpture, was carved from a single block of marble that two other artists had discarded for its imperfections.

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From 'The Oxford Book of Literary Anecdotes' 1975 Oxford Literary Press Edited by James Sutherland

(William) Blake, who always saw in fancy every form he drew, believed that angels descended to painters of old, and sat for their portraits. When he himself (Blake) sat to Phillips for that fine portrait so beautifully engraved by Schiavonetti, the painter (Phillips), in order to obtain the most unaffected attitude, and the most poetic expression, engaged his sitter in a conversation concerning the sublime in art.

'We here much' said Phillips, 'of the grandeur of Michael Angelo; from the engravings, I should say he has been over-rated; he could not paint an angel so well as Raphael.'

'He has not been over-rated, Sir,' said Blake, 'and he could paint an angel better than Raphael.'

'Well, but', said Phillips, 'you never saw any of the paintings of Michael Angelo, and perhaps speak from the opinions of other; your friends may have deceived you.'

'I never saw any of the paintings of Michael Angelo,' replied Blake, 'but I speak from the opinion of a friend who could not be mistaken.'

'A valuable friend truly,' said Phillips, 'and who may he be I pray?'

'The arch-angel Gabriel, Sir,' answered Blake.

'A good authority surely, but you know evil spirits love to assume the looks of good ones; and this may have been done to mislead you.'

'Well now, Sir,' said Blake, 'this is really singular: such were my own suspicions; but they were soon removed-I will tell you how. I was one day reading Young's 'Night Thoughts', and when I came to that passage which asks "who can paint an angel?", I closed the book and cried,' "Aye! who can paint an angel?" A voice in the room answered, "Michael Angelo could." "And how do you know?" I said, looking around me, but I saw nothing save a greater light then usual. "I know," said the voice, "for I sat to him: I am the arch-angel Gabriel."

"Oho!" I answered, "you are, are you?" "I must have better assurance than that of a wondering voice; you may be an evil spirit - there are such in the land."

"You shall have good assurance," said the voice; "can an evil spirit do this?"

'I looked whence the voice came, and was then aware of a shining shape, with bright wings, who diffused much light. As I looked, the shape dilated more and more: he waved his hands; the roof of my study opened; he ascended into heaven; he stood in the sun, and beckoning to me, moved the universe. An angel of evil could not have done that - it was the arch-angel Gabriel.'

Phillips marveled much at this wild story; but he caught from Blake's looks, that rapt poetic expression which has rendered his portrait one of the finest of the English school. 

 I am really sorry to see my Countrymen trouble themselves about Politics. If Men were Wise the Most arbitrary Princes could not hurt them. If they are not Wise the Freest Government is compelled to be a Tyranny.  Princes appear to me to be Fools. Houses of Commons & Houses of Lords appear to me to be fools, they seem to me to be something Else besides Human Life.   The Notebook, Public Address ~William Blake

 I will not Reason & Compare:  My business is to Create
Jerusalem - The Emanation of the Giant Albion ~William Blake

Blake Poetry and Prose              Blake Concordance

WILLIAM BLAKE-One who is very much delighted with being in good Company  Born 28 November 1757 in London & has died several times since  [from Blake's Autograph in the Album of William Upcott] 

"He who does not imagine in stronger and better lineaments, and in stronger and better light than his perishing and mortal eye can see, does not imagine at all"     ~William Blake~

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From The Library of Congress-Copyright Office    Circular 22