Artwork
Ariel on a Bat's Back
Ariel on a Bat's Back is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Henry Singleton. It dates from 1819 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1819, Henry Singleton’s oil painting titled Ariel on a Bat’s Back portrays a mythological scene now part of the Tate Britain collection. The work presents a female figure, Ariel, astride a large bat as it glides above a tranquil water surface.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a woman in a light‑coloured dress, her hair and garments billowing in the wind, grasping the bat’s wing while extending her right arm outward. The pairing of a human and a nocturnal creature evokes themes of transformation and the interplay between the ethereal and the earthly.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting relies on strong chiaroscuro, juxtaposing the dark, expansive wings of the bat against the luminous figure and sky. This contrast enhances the sense of depth, while the calm water below, marked only by gentle ripples, reflects the subtle handling of light.
History & Provenance
Ariel on a Bat’s Back was produced early in the 19th‑century Romantic period and entered the Tate Britain’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition history beyond the museum’s ownership is not extensively documented.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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