Milton Dictating to His Daughter

Henry Fuseli

Created:
Movement:
1794
Romanticism
key Notes:
Romanticism, Literary Inspiration
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Dimensions:
121.2 × 118.7 cm (47 3/4 × 46 3/4 in.); Framed: 142.9 × 130.5 cm (56 1/4 × 51 3/8 in.)
medium:
Oil on canvas
Difficulty:
Expert
New game
story of the work:

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Henry Fuseli's "Milton Dictating to His Daughter" (1794)

Henry Fuseli (1741–1825), a Swiss-born artist, is renowned for his dramatic and imaginative style, often drawing inspiration from literature and mythology. The painting "Milton Dictating to His Daughter," created in 1794, exemplifies Fuseli's fascination with literary subjects, depicting the blind poet John Milton as he composes his epic works. This oil on canvas captures the intimate yet profound moment of artistic creation, highlighting Fuseli's skill in conveying emotion and narrative through his use of light and shadow. The work reflects the Romantic era's emphasis on the sublime and the power of the imagination. Fuseli's influence extended to the British art scene, where he served as a professor of painting at the Royal Academy, shaping the next generation of artists. His contributions to the Romantic movement and his distinctive style continue to be studied and appreciated in art historical contexts.

Description of the work:

Milton Dictating to His Daughter by Henry Fuseli

Created in 1794, Henry Fuseli's "Milton Dictating to His Daughter" is an oil on canvas painting that exemplifies the Romantic style, characterized by dramatic lighting and expressive figures. The artwork depicts the blind poet John Milton dictating his epic work "Paradise Lost" to one of his daughters, capturing a moment of literary history with emotional intensity.

Artwork Photograph Source:
Art Institute of Chicago

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Milton Dictating to His Daughter