Henry Fuseli

A Woman with a fan, standing, seen from the back

A Woman with a fan, standing, seen from the back by Henry Fuseli

Artwork Detail

The model for this study was the artist’s wife. Although often portrayed by Fuseli as a simpering madam, according to her peers she was a modest, decent soul. Although some writers have interpreted the background as a curtain, it may have been a preparatory sketch for an undated painting titled The Ladies of Hastings, which shows three women confronting a pointing man on a cliff, watched by a reclining figure below. Another preparatory sketch shows further variations of the pose, in which the rear figure retains the fan shown in Auckland Art Gallery’s drawing.

Title
A Woman with a fan, standing, seen from the back
Artist/creator
Henry Fuseli
Production date
1791
Medium
pencil with blue, brown, black and pink wash, body colour
Dimensions
233 x 188 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1965
Accession no
1965/44
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
International Art
Display status
Not on display

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