AFTER HENRY FUSELI. The Enchanted Island Before the Cell of Prospero-Prospero, Miranda, Caliban and Ariel (Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 2)

AFTER HENRY FUSELI (1741-1825)

The Enchanted Island Before the Cell of Prospero-Prospero, Miranda, Caliban and Ariel (Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 2)

The Enchanted Island Before the Cell of Prospero - Prospero, Miranda, Caliban and Ariel (Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 2). Artist: After Henry Fuseli (Swiss, Zürich 1741-1825 London). Dimensions: image: 16 7/8 x 23 1/16 in. (42.9 x 58.5 cm) sheet: 20 1/16 x 25 1/2 in. (51 x 64.7 cm). Engraver: Peter Simon (British, London ca. 1764-1813 Paris). Publisher: John & Josiah Boydell (British, 1786-1804). Series/Portfolio: Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery. Subject: William Shakespeare (British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564-1616 Stratford-upon-Avon). Date: September 29, 1797. Fascinated by themes of magic and erotic desire, Fuseli was a life-long devotee of Shakespeare, first reading the plays as a youth in Zurich. After settling in London, he contributed paintings to John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery, launched in 1786 as an exhibition cum print-publishing scheme funded by subscribers. Simpson's print reproduces Fuseli's conception of a scene near the beginning of "The Tempest," where Prospero punishes Caliban for attempting to rape Miranda. Hovering overhead, the spirit Ariel prepares to do the magician's bidding, with a seaside grotto used to indicate the island setting. Emblematic creatures are placed strategically near each character-a moth above Miranda, sprites and a cat by Prospero, and shell-fish and evil-looking monkey next to Caliban.

Stipple engraving; published state

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

John & Josiah Boydell (British, 1786-1804)

Album / Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

Model: No - Property: No
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4210 x 3288 px | 39.6 MB

35.6 x 27.8 cm | 14.0 x 11.0 in (300 dpi)