#She met and fell in love with Milton because she was an artist and loved that Milton had made art his profession

[sunsetthedragon]

Since I’ve seen some discussion around The Unfinished Swan, what are your headcanons for The Queen/Monroe’s mom/Milton’s wife?

[georgiablacklidge-blog]

John Henry Fuseli 1741–1825 Fuseli was a Swiss painter, draughtsman and writer on art who spent much of his life in Britain. Like Voltaire, Fuseli was attracted by the English tolerance of ideas, but it was Romanticism and especially the theatre that influenced him and gave him a great deal of enthusiasm for art. In the romanticism erie the artists didn't want you to think about their work but emotionally respond to them. Henry Fuseli was a huge part of the romanticism movement, ‘The Nightmare’ was one of the major paintings of this time. It became an icon of Romanticism and a defining image of Gothic horror. People say that Henry Fuseli was very ahead his time and his work was generally neglected. However about a century after his death the Expressionists and Surrealists saw in him a kindred spirits and now is a vastly respected artist. Previously I have mentioned the image ‘The Nightmare’ (1782). In my opinion this is one of the most essential paintings of Romanticism. This is an unforgettable image which secured his reputation. It is Oil on canvas, 101.6 x 127 cm. The painting deals with supernatural subject matter. Furthermore the painting draws on folklore, science and classical art to create a new kind of sexually charged image. Fuseli’s painting displays a ravished woman who seems lifeless draped across her bed but is also positioned in a way that is sexual suggestive, her skin is exceedingly bright, with the dark background and incubus sitting on top of her starring out. There is a huge contrast between these two. She appears as if she’s angelic, angel like. So it is quite similar to heaven and hell. Also in the left corner creeping out from the red curtains there is a very mysterious mare with shocking white eyes glaring at her. It seems to be consumed with madness. The relationship between the mare, the incubus, and the woman remains suggestive but not explicit. He explores the areas of where sex meets fear in my opinion. There is a very ethic nature to this image and this is what Romanticism really dwelled on. To me this image is very disturbing to look at. Fuseli wanted the painting to shock and intrigue, he defiantly achieved this. It was very first shown in 1782 at London's Royal Academy exhibition, the painting frightened visitors. It was extremely unlike the paintings the public were used to seeing. Fuseli's subject matter was not drawn from history or the bible, like a lot of his previous work, nor did it carry any moralising intent. This subject matter terrified people and questioned what it truly is about. There were many different interpretations of this. But it is a product of Fuseli’s own imagination. Many say that the inspiration for ‘The Nightmare’ came from a woman he passionately fell in love with one of his friends nieces named Anna Landholdt. Who he met travelling through Rome. Fuseli wrote of his fantasies in 1779 ‘Last night I had her in bed with me, tossed my bedclothes hugger-mugger, wound my hot and tight-clasped hands about her, fused her body and soul together with my own, poured into her my spirit, breath and strength. Anyone who touches her now commits adultery and incest! She is mine, and I am hers. And have her I will…’ Although her farther didn't approve, she also didn't return his feelings and some say he was deeply affected by this. Some historians have gone to say that the woman in the painting was in fact Anna, and the demon was Fuseli himself. It could be an erotic portrait of a lost love. This image has been borrowed and used over even to this day. Many of Fuseli's paintings were based on Greek myths but also famous English playwright, William Shakespeare and John Milton, the poet influenced his work. As a result of his influences Fuseli's own work are full of emotion and self expression. ’Expression alone can invest beauty with supreme and lasting command over the eye.’ This was a quote from Henry Fuseli. His work favours the supernatural. Often there are elements of spirits or goblins. Mostly they are dark and malevolent beings. Fuseli originally trained as a Zwinglian minister and he took holy orders in 1761, but soon abandoned the priesthood. After leaving Zurich, Fuseli traveled through Germany, immersing himself in the culture, he was deeply influenced by german enlightenment whilst travelling. He then moved to England in 1764. Fuseli moved to London because a British ambassador had been impressed by his drawings. Encouraged by Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1768 to become a painter, Fuseli traveled to Rome, Italy in 1770. After this he returned to London in 1780 and created ‘The Nightmare’  whilst in England. This is what started his outstanding success. From 1799 to 1805 Fuseli was a professor of painting at the Royal Academy and he became the keeper  of the Academy in 1804. Some of his students include other  British Romantics, John Constable and William Blake are very well known artists that he taught. Fuseli sadly died in England in 1825 but his work carries on to be used to this day. This erie focused on emotion over reason. Artists were intrigued by passions and their inner struggles. We can defiantly say that Henry Fuseli focused on this which is why it is one of the most prolific paintings of this time. He communicates the idea of romanticism exceedingly well. When viewing it defiantly evokes an emotion in you, you can’t avoid feeling uneasy whilst looking at it. Many if not most people had stopped believing in witches, demons and other dark forces around this time but Fuseli still carried on to paint. His work was neglected more around this erie but after his death people started to appreciate it much more. ’The Nightmare’ inspired many other artists ever since it was painted. ‘Romanticism is precisely situated neither in choice of subject nor in exact truth, but in a way of feeling.’ This is a quote by Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867). In my opinion it is a perfect way to sum up Romanticism.