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All the United Kingdom England London 'Titania and Bottom'

'Titania and Bottom'

This macabre painting of a Shakespearean scene looks like something out of a nightmare.

London, England

Added By
Mictlān Tēcutli
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“Titania and Bottom” by Henry Fuseli.   Henry Fuseli/public domain
“Titania and Bottom” by Henry Fuseli.   Henry Fuseli/public domain
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Nymph and a demonic imp.   Sailko/cc by 3.0
Detail showing a sinister entity that is a cross between a butterfly and a child.   Sailko/cc by 3.0
The character of bottom surrounded by nymphs and faeries.   Sailko/cc by 3.0
A child clutching what appears to be a dead infant.   Sailko/cc by 3.0
Detail showing a child with black pits for eyes.   Sailko/cc by 3.0
Detail showing a wizened creature held on a leash by a faerie.   Sailko/cc by 3.0
A hooded figure clutching a demonic goblin entity.   Sailko/cc by 3.0
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Titania and Bottom   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
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About

While walking through the galleries of Tate Britain, your eyes may be drawn to this painting, which at first glance may appear as yet another florid 18th-century ode to Shakespeare. But take a closer look, and you will find that the devil is in the details—quite literally.

This sinister, gothic masterpiece by the Swiss-born artist Henry Fuseli is a unique portrayal of a Shakespearean scene (A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act IV Scene 1) haunted by terrifying demonic entities. The character of Nick Bottom, a peasant, has had his head transformed into that of a donkey by a mischievous woodland sprite, Puck, a servant of the faerie king Oberon. Oberon’s wife, Titania, Queen of the Faeries, has also been tricked by a love potion which makes her fall madly in love with the first thing she sees, which is the donkey-headed Bottom.

The painting portrays Bottom being lovingly caressed by the voluptuous faerie queen, who is surrounded by her beautiful nymph attendants and more sinister creatures. A demonic child-like figure cradles a dead and bloody infant child in her arms while staring at the viewer. Standing next to her is another figure with black pits where her eyes should be. At their feet crawls a demon wearing a giant butterfly on her head and placing a finger over her lips as if threatening the viewer to be silent. On the opposite side of the painting are even stranger characters, such as a hooded druid-like figure carrying a grotesque goblin and a nymph holding a leash attached to a wizened dwarf.

Needless to say, when this painting was first unveiled to the public, it caused quite a sensation and added further fire to the dark rumors surrounding Fuseli’s personal well-being. His private life was the subject of much gossip in the high society of Georgian era-London. The most pernicious and dogged rumor regarding Fuseli was that he was a secret opium and laudanum addict who consumed the drugs in high quantities as stimulants to fuel his artistic creativity.

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Art Art Museum Paintings Shakespeare

Know Before You Go

Tate Britain is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. According to the museum's website, this painting is displayed as part of the Walk Through British Art exhibit. Admission is free.

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Added By

Monsieur Mictlan

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SEANETTA, Collector of Experiences, Xavixavir

  • SEANETTA
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Xavixavir

Published

November 28, 2018

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  • https://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/blogs/work-week-titania-and-bottom-henry-fuseli
'Titania and Bottom'
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London, England
United Kingdom
51.491062, -0.127789
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