Henry Fuseli
Henry Fuseli was a Swiss painter, draughtsman and writer on art who spent much of his life in Britain.Many of his works, such as The Nightmare, deal with supernatural subject-matter. He painted works for John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery, and created his own "Milton Gallery".
TIME-LINE
1741
7th February
Henry Fuseli was born (German) Johann Heinrich Füssli in Zürich, in Switzerland, the second of 18 children, to Johann Caspar Füssli ( Swiss portrait painter and writer) and Elisabeth Waser
1743
9th March
Fuseli's younger brother Johann Kaspar Füssli was born in Zurich
1749
16th September
Fuseli's younger sister is born, Anna Füssli, whom later became a Swiss painter. She specialized in flower and insect paintings.
1761
After a period of intensive theological study Fuseli was ordained a Zwinglian minister and preached his first sermon.
Fuseli was forced to leave the country as a result of having helped who had been one of his schoolmates Johann Kaspar Lavater, to expose an unjust magistrate, whose powerful family sought revenge.
1764
Fuseli went to London to work as a translator of French, German, and Italian books
1765
Fuseli travelled through Germany, and then, visited England.
1767
Fuseli's book on the French philosopher, Remarks on the Writing and Conduct of J. J. Rousseau, was published anonymously
1770-78
Fuseli studied in Rome from 1770 to 1778
1772
24th February
Fueseli's younger sister is born, Anna Füssli died.
1779
Fuseli's returned to Britain
1781
Fuseli completed "The Nightmare" oil painting . It shows a woman in deep sleep with her arms thrown below her, and with a demonic and apelike incubus crouched on her chest.
1782
6th May
Fuseli's father died Johann Caspar Füssli
Fuseli's painting, "The Nightmare"first exhibition, at the Royal Academy of London, critics and patrons reacted with horrified fascination and the work became widely popular
1783
Joseph Johnson commissioned a portrait of Joseph Priestley by Fuseli
1786
4th May
Fuseli's younger brother Johann Kaspar Füssli died
Fuseli started to write essays and reviews for the Analytical Review. With Thomas Paine, William Godwin, Joseph Priestley, Erasmus Darwin, Mary Wollstonecraft, and others interested in art.
1787
Fuseli,meets Mary Wollstonecraft, English writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights.Also mother of Mary Shelley, who would become an accomplished writer and author of Frankenstein.
1788
Fuseli married Sophia Rawlins (originally one of his models), and he soon after became an associate of the Royal Academy.
Fuseli started to write essays and reviews for the Analytical Review
1789
Fuseli becomes romantically involved Mary Wollstonecraft.Which ends Wollstonecraft, Fuseli, and his wife come to an emotional crisis. She proposed a platonic living arrangement with Fuseli and his wife, but Fuseli's wife was appalled, and he broke off the relationship with Wollstonecraft.After Fuseli's rejection, Wollstonecraft decided to travel to France to escape the humiliation of the incident
1790
Fuseli became a full Academician, presenting Thor Battering the Midgard Serpent as his diploma work.
Fuseli, completed the painting "Thor Battering the Midgard Serpent".The painting was Fuseli's diploma work for his election to the British Royal Academy of Arts
1794
Fuseli created two other works depicting the Three Witches for a Dublin art gallery.
1796
Fuseli completed "The Night-Hag Visiting Lapland Witches"
1799
Fuseli was appointed professor of painting to the Academy.
Fuseli exhibited a series of paintings from subjects furnished by the works of John Milton
1803
Fuseli was chosen as Keeper, and resigned his professorship of the Academy.
Fuseli completed "The Blind Polyphemus, at the Entrance to His Cave, Strokes the Ram under which Odysseus Lies Concealed".
1807
Fuseli completed "The Debutante", which depicts ;Woman, the victim of male social conventions, is tied to the wall, made to sew and guarded by governesses. The picture reflects Mary Wollstonecraft's views in The Rights of Women
1810
Fuseli resumed professorship to the Academy.
1825
17th April
Henry Fuseli, died (aged 84) at the house of the Countess of Guildford, Putney Hill, London, England
Henry Fuseli buried in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral.