MS

Class 11 Fairy Painting

Introduction to British Literary Art of the Nineteenth Century

Focus: Fairy Paintings

Fairy paintings during the Nineteenth Century served as a bridge between fantasy and reality, highlighting the artistic expression of an era marked by both romantic idealism and the harsh truths of industrialization.

Importance of Fairy Tales

Charles Dickens profoundly articulated the value of fairy tales in his quote from 1853:

"In a utilitarian age, of all other times, it is a matter of grave importance that fairy tales should be respected ... A nation without fancy, without some great romance, never did, never will, hold a place under the sun."

This statement underlines the cultural significance of fairy tales, asserting that they are essential in fostering imagination, creativity, and romance in society amidst the utilitarian nature of the age. Fairy tales act as vessels of escapism and provide a narrative structure through which moral and societal values can be explored.

Christopher Wood's Perspective

Art critic Christopher Wood emphasized that the Victorians had a deep longing for belief in fairies, which symbolized an escape from the harsh realities of an unromantic and materialistic scientific age. The fascination with fairy lore served not only as entertainment but as a critical means for individuals to reconnect with their imaginations and the mystical aspects of life that modernity threatened to erase.

Notable Fairy Paintings

George Cruikshank

  • Queen Mab

    • Year: 1821

    • Medium: Oil on canvas

    • Size: 19 x 20 in.

    • Collection: Forbes Magazine Collection

    • Significance: Represents the whimsical nature of dreams and the nighttime fairy world, drawing on Shakespeare's character to explore themes of love and enchanting fantasy.

Henry Fuseli

  • Titania's Awakening

    • Year: 1780-90

    • Medium: Oil on canvas

    • Size: 87 ½ x 110 3/8 in.

    • Collection: Kunstmuseum, Winterthur

    • Significance: Captures the moment of awakening in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, emphasizing themes of love, transformation, and the supernatural.

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream

    • Year: c. 1790

    • Medium: Oil on canvas

    • Collection: Tate Britain, London

    • Significance: An exploration of desire and the complexities of love showcased through an allegorical lens of fairy intervention.

  • Titania and Bottom

    • Year: 1786-89

    • Medium: Oil on canvas

    • Size: 85 x 108 in.

    • Collection: Tate Britain

    • Significance: Illustrates the comedic and romantic entanglements facilitated by the fairies, underlining the intersection of reality and fantasy.

Francis Danby

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream

    • Year: 1832

    • Medium: Watercolor

    • Size: approx. 8 x 11 in.

    • Collection: Oldham Art Gallery

    • Significance: A serene depiction that captures the enchantment of the forest settings and the fairy world inherent in Shakespeare's narrative.

Joseph Noel Paton

  • The Quarrel of Oberon and Titania

    • Year: 1850

    • Medium: Oil on canvas

    • Size: 39 x 45 ½ in.

    • Collection: National Gallery of Scotland

    • Significance: Explores themes of conflict and resolution within love narratives, as Oberon and Titania’s quarrel represents larger societal conflicts.

  • The Reconciliation of Oberon and Titania

    • Year: 1850

    • Medium: Oil on canvas

    • Size: 39 x 45 ½ in.

    • Collection: National Gallery of Scotland

    • Significance: Contrasts the earlier depiction of their quarrel, highlighting themes of forgiveness and unity amidst discord.

David Scott

  • Puck Fleeing from the Dawn

    • Year: 1837

    • Medium: Oil on canvas

    • Size: 38 x 57 ½ in.

    • Collection: National Gallery of Scotland

    • Significance: Captures the mischievous spirit of Puck, embodying the playful yet fleeting nature of dreams and fairy tales.

Daniel Maclise

  • The Disenchantment of Bottom

    • Year: 1832

    • Medium: Oil on canvas

    • Size: 40 x 40 in.

    • Collection: Wadsworth Athenaeum, Hartford, CT

    • Significance: This painting focuses on transformation and the struggles between reality and fantasy encountered by the characters.

Robert Huskisson

  • Midsummer Night's Fairies

    • Year: 1847

    • Medium: Oil on wood

    • Size: approx. 11 x 13 in.

    • Collection: Tate Britain

    • Significance: A charming exploration of the fairy realm; the lightness of the composition reflects the joyful nature of fairy narratives.

William Blake

  • Oberon, Titania and Puck with Fairies Dancing

    • Year: c. 1785

    • Medium: Watercolor and drawing

    • Size: 19 x 27 in.

    • Collection: Tate Britain

    • Significance: Highlights the interconnectedness of the fairy characters, emphasizing themes of joy and magic within the supernatural.

Frank Cadogan Cowper

  • Titania Sleeps in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

    • Year: 1928

    • Medium: Oil on canvas

    • Size: 35 x 45 ½ in.

    • Collection: Kapitan Museum, Tokyo

    • Significance: Portrays the serene beauty and delicacy of the fairy queen in a moment of vulnerability, contrasting the typical portrayals of strength.

Additional Fairy Themes in Art

The Tempest

Various artworks inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest feature characters like Prospero, Miranda, and Ariel, showcasing diverse artistic interpretations that highlight themes of power, magic, and reconciliation:

  • Prospero Relating His History to Miranda, Charles Rolt, 1857

  • A Scene from the Tempest, George Romney, c. 1790

  • Caliban, John Hamilton Mortimer, 1775-76

  • Priscilla Horton as Ariel, Daniel Maclise, 1838-39

  • Ariel on a Bat's Back, Henry Singleton, 1819

  • Ferdinand Lured by Ariel, John Everett Millais, 1849

  • Miranda, John W. Waterhouse, 1916

Illustrators and Fairy Tales

Illustrators like J.M. Barrie and Lewis Carroll contributed significantly to the visual culture of fairy tales:

  • Barrie’s works featured illustrations by F. D. Beford, 1911

  • Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was illustrated by John Tenniel in 1865

  • George Cruikshank’s Grimm's Fairy Tales, 1823, showcased the darker aspects of fairy narratives, drawing on folklore's moral lessons.

Arthur Rackham

A prominent illustrator known for his detailed and whimsical fairy illustrations, including:

  • Rip van Winkle, 1905

  • The Adventures of Alice, 1907

  • Peter Pan, 1912

    Arthur Rackham, The Fairies Have Their Tiff With the Birds, 1906 (from "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens")
  • Mother Goose, 1913

  • Various fairy illustrations found in published works from 1906 to 1912

    Arthur Rackham, Illustration from Richard Wagner's "The Ring," published 1912Arthur Rackham, Illustration from Richard Wagner's "The Ring," published 1912Arthur Rackham, The Meeting of Oberon and Titania (1908)

Cottingley Fairy Photographs

The Cottingley Fairy Photographs, taken in June 1917, depict fairies and sparkled wide public interest and debate regarding the existence of fairies, bridging the divide between reality and fantasy.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

  • 1806-1859

  • English Civil Engineer

  • One of 19th century’s engineering giants

  • A leader of the Industrial Revolution

  • Designed the GWR (Great Western Railway)

  • Transatlantic steamships

  • Fascinated with fairy paintings & commissioned the below for his dining room

    Edwin Landseer, A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1851, oil on canvas, 32 x 52 in., National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia

Richard Dadd

Richard Dadd's fairy paintings, created during his institutionalization, reflect the darker aspects of Victorian society as well as his troubled personal life. His notable works include:

  • Titania Sleeping, c. 1841

  • The Haunt of the Fairies, c. 1841

  • The Flight out of Egypt, c. 1849-50

  • Fairy Feller's Master Stroke, 1855-64

    Dadd's complex life and artistic contributions serve as a poignant reminder of the intersection between art and mental health in the Victorian era.