Henry Fuseli

Subject from Milton's L'Allegro

Artwork Detail

Haste thee, Nymph and bring with thee, Jest, and youthful jollity, Quips and Cranks and wanton wiles, Nods and Becks and wreathed Smiles… Sport that Wrinkled Care derides, And Laughter holding both his sides.

L'Allegro lines 27-32

Fuseli spent several years in Italy, and many of his figures make direct reference to Renaissance paintings - here the Nymph is based on Correggio's Danae (Galleria Borghese, Rome). The figures of Laughter, a gnomic jester with traces of wings sprouting from his shoulders, and Care, were later to directly influence Blake's Mirth and Her Companions (1817). (Monsters and Maidens, 2004)

[second image on reverse]

Title
Subject from Milton's L'Allegro
Artist/creator
Henry Fuseli
Production date
circa 1780-circa 1785
Medium
pencil
Dimensions
330 x 411 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1965
Accession no
1965/65
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
International Art
Display status
Not on display

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