4.9/5
A sleeping woman lies draped across a bed in a white gown, lit by dramatic light. On her chest sits a grotesque, dark creature staring at us. This is Henry Fuseli's masterpiece, painted in 1781. [1] In the dark, a horse with flared nostrils and glowing, pupil-less eyes peers through curtains. [2]
The bright diagonal of her sleeping form in her airy white dress cuts across the canvas. [2] Henry Fuseli used smooth brushwork on her skin, contrasting with the textured fur of the crouched creature. This terror is a hallmark of Romantic school paintings, a style valuing intense feelings.
The Sensational Royal Academy Exhibition of 1782
Henry Fuseli originally created this oil painting on canvas. [1] Showing it at the Royal Academy in 1782 brought sensational popular success. [3] Dictionaries then defined a nightmare as a weight pressing on sleepers. [2] This is why he painted an apelike creature, representing an incubus, on her chest. [2]
From the Detroit Institute of Arts to Your Wall
Today, the original hangs in the Detroit Institute of Arts under accession number 55.5.A. [1] Henry Fuseli painted three additional versions due to public demand. [3] You can see his style in Macbeth, Act I, Scene 3, the Weird Sisters or The Meeting of Sir Hüon of Bordeaux and Scherasmin in the Libanon Cave, from Wieland’s Oberon.
Hanging The Nightmare in Your Living Space
This artwork is one of the most celebrated canvases ever painted. Owning the nightmare reproduction lets you experience this scene on your wall. Our artists recreate it as a hand-painted oil painting on museum-grade linen. We list seven sizes starting from $299.95.
To match the original proportions, you can order a custom-made canvas size. We also offer other dramatic reproductions of Henry Fuseli. These beautiful works help you build a cohesive art collection on your home walls.
