Jean-Pierre Simon (Engraver), Henry Fuseli (After)

Shakespeare: Midsummer-Night's Dream, Act IV, Scene I: A wood - Titania, Queen of the fairies, Bottom, fairies attending

Shakespeare: Midsummer-Night's Dream, Act IV, Scene I: A wood - Titania, Queen of the fairies, Bottom, fairies attending by Jean-Pierre Simon, Henry Fuseli

Artwork Detail

Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of the Fairies, are locked in a dispute over a boy whom Titania has adopted. Oberon sprinkles a magic potion in the Queen's eyes as she sleeps, and when she awakes she falls in love with Bottom the weaver, who has been given the head of an ass. He gives orders to Mustardseed, the tiny figure that stands on his upturned palm. These engravings denote Fuseli's interest in entomology. The invention of the microscope meant that creatures could be depicted accurately, whatever their scale. (Monsters and Maidens, 2004)

Title
Shakespeare: Midsummer-Night's Dream, Act IV, Scene I: A wood - Titania, Queen of the fairies, Bottom, fairies attending
Artist/creator
Jean-Pierre Simon, Henry Fuseli
Production date
1796
Medium
mezzotint and spirit-ground aquatint on wove paper
Dimensions
507 x 662 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Peter Tomory, 2002
Accession no
2002/9/5
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
International Art
Display status
Not on display

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