Artwork
Titania and Bottom
Titania and Bottom is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Henry Fuseli. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Titania and Bottom is an oil painting created by Henry Fuseli around 1790, now housed at Tate Britain in London. It illustrates a pivotal moment from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Titania, the fairy queen, standing over Bottom, a weaver transformed with a donkey's head. Surrounding figures include fairies and animals, highlighting the scene's magical and chaotic nature from the play.
Technique & Style
Fuseli employed detailed, colorful brushwork with varied textures and patterns. Titania's flowing, shiny white dress contrasts with the realistic depiction of Bottom's donkey head, set against a dark, shadowy background that accentuates the central figures.
History & Provenance
Commissioned for the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, the work reflects 18th-century interest in illustrating Shakespeare's plays. It has been part of Tate Britain's collection in London.
Own this work as a print
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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