Artwork
Kriemhild über der Leiche Siegfrieds
Kriemhild über der Leiche Siegfrieds is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Henry Fuseli. It dates from 1817 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1817, this oil on canvas by Henry Fuseli is part of the collection at the Kunsthaus Zürich. The work presents a stark, intimate tableau rendered with dramatic lighting, inviting contemplation of its narrative content.
Subject & Meaning
A young woman in a white dress, her dark hair gathered, sits atop a reclining male figure. She rests her right arm on his chest and gently touches his forehead with her left hand, suggesting a moment of mourning or reverence toward the fallen man.
Technique & Style
Fuseli employs strong chiaroscuro, contrasting the illuminated figures against a deep, shadowed background. The red cloth beneath them amplifies the somber tone, while the careful modeling of flesh and fabric enhances the three‑dimensional effect.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Kunsthaus Zürich’s holdings after its early 19th‑century creation, remaining in the museum’s permanent collection and serving as a representative example of Fuseli’s later oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henry Fuseli was a Swiss painter, draughtsman, and writer on art who spent much of his career in Britain.
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