Henry Fuseli, born as Johann Heinrich Fuseli in Zurich in 1741, is one of the most remarkable painters of his time. Fuseli came from an educated milieu and received his first painting impulses from his father, who was himself a landscape and still life painter. Fuseli's sisters were also painters. After studying theology, Henry Fuseli first became a pastor, but then had to leave his home town Zurich because of critical writings. At that time the painting pastor had already studied the ancient writings of Homer, Shakespeare and Dante.
In 1764 Fuseli settled in London after a short stay in Berlin, where he had made a name for himself as a translator. The portrait painter Sir Joshua Reynolds helped him to concentrate on painting in the future. Between 1770 and 1778, Fuseli lived in Rome, studied Michelangelo's works intensively and became involved with the art of antiquity. Back in London, Fuseli was admitted to the Royal Academy: His reputation was already legendary at that time. With the oil painting "Thor's Fight with the Midgard Serpent" Fuseli was appointed a full member of the Academy. A few years later he also became a professor.
What distinguishes the painting of the Swiss-English artist? Fuselis art is considered suggestive, demonic, intensely sensual. The visionary, even horrible, is the theme of his painting. Fuseli translates this, as in "Titania and Bottom", into sensual colours and strong light-dark contrasts. At the same time the painter was a lover of theatre and literature. In an emotional way he illustrated Shakespeare's dramas, for example "Hamlet", in drastic black and white colouring. The painting "The three witches appear Macbeth and Banquo" is magnificent in its dark colours and tangible drama. © Meisterdrucke
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Henry Fuseli, born as Johann Heinrich Fuseli in Zurich in 1741, is one of the most remarkable painters of his time. Fuseli came from an educated milieu and received his first painting impulses from his father, who was himself a landscape and still life painter. Fuseli's sisters were also painters. After studying theology, Henry Fuseli first became a pastor, but then had to leave his home town Zurich because of critical writings. At that time the painting pastor had already studied the ancient writings of Homer, Shakespeare and Dante.
In 1764 Fuseli settled in London after a short stay in Berlin, where he had made a name for himself as a translator. The portrait painter Sir Joshua Reynolds helped him to concentrate on painting in the future. Between 1770 and 1778, Fuseli lived in Rome, studied Michelangelo's works intensively and became involved with the art of antiquity. Back in London, Fuseli was admitted to the Royal Academy: His reputation was already legendary at that time. With the oil painting "Thor's Fight with the Midgard Serpent" Fuseli was appointed a full member of the Academy. A few years later he also became a professor.
What distinguishes the painting of the Swiss-English artist? Fuselis art is considered suggestive, demonic, intensely sensual. The visionary, even horrible, is the theme of his painting. Fuseli translates this, as in "Titania and Bottom", into sensual colours and strong light-dark contrasts. At the same time the painter was a lover of theatre and literature. In an emotional way he illustrated Shakespeare's dramas, for example "Hamlet", in drastic black and white colouring. The painting "The three witches appear Macbeth and Banquo" is magnificent in its dark colours and tangible drama. © Meisterdrucke
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