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CibbuanoHenry Fuseli
February 20th 2008 03:29
Henry Fuseli
Fuseli's famous Nightmares
Born in Switzerland in 1741 and dying 1825 Henry Fuseli is a classic gothic painter of the macabre with few equals.
From wikipedia:
“As a painter, Fuseli was daringly inventive, and always aspired to the highest forms of excellence. He favoured the supernatural, and pitched everything on an ideal scale, believing a certain amount of exaggeration necessary in the higher branches of historical painting….The violent and intemperate action which he often displays, in the conventional wisdom, destroys the grand effect of many of his pieces.”
Adam and Eve
Fluent in several languages he also gained respect for his writing on art. Forced to leave his native land after clashing with the bureaucratic injustices of the time he spent a lot of time in Germany and Britain.
I remember seeing Fuseli’s work as a child and being unnerved by it, now it is inspirational. There is a strong atmosphere of darkness that permeates even his more picturesque works, his surrealism of motion and attention to detail command an emotional response from the observer.
Henry's world
Existing largely in the grotesque later in life, his early years were spent gaining a classical education and with a painter for a father seemed destined to create more traditional pieces.
Thriving on the horror of imagination and seldom drawing from real life Fuseli’s “adult fairytale” quality was underestimated in his lifetime. Though he did receive a measure of success few of his painting were exhibited and those that were only impressed those willing to embrace their unique nature.
Silence
Looking at the stunning renderings now it is hard to imagine not being affected by their strength of will and metaphysical comments on the world in which we live. It is the innate beauty and sensuality of these disturbing subjects that forces me and may others to declare Fuseli a master.
Henry Fuseli
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
That "Silence", in particular, really gobsmacks me!
Isn't it a dreadful indictment of man, that he was so shunned, yet, he was stabbing deeply into the psyche of all whom dared stare into his work, so it is not surprising, particularly in his day, that people shied away.
I do have one point of contention;
"The violent and intemperate action which he often displays, in the conventional wisdom, destroys the grand effect of many of his pieces.”
WHAT BALDERDASH!! That's the trouble with Wikipedia, any idiot can add to their data base! If this criticism was true, then the be-bloodied and sperm spackled contemporary art of today would be on the rubbish tip, instead of costing vast sums!
cheers
all very interesting!!
fog