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Johann Heinrich Füssli was an 18 th century Symbolist painter. Born in Switzerland, Füssli was the son of a painter, Johann Caspar Füssli (also sometimes spelled Fuseli). Despite his fathers’ influence, Füssli became an ordained pastor at the age of 20. Nonetheless, his father eventually did push him to leave the church and travel with him throughout Europe.

Füssli and his father spent a great deal of time studying in Germany and in Italy. While in Italy, Füssli became greatly influenced by the works of Michelangelo, among others. The father and son duo then moved on to London, where he became a member of the Royal Academy in 1790. Though he would continue to travel extensively throughout the rest of his life, Füssli made London his home.

While in London, Füssli no doubt came into contact with the work of early symbolist painter and rival William Blake. Like Blake’s work, Füssli’s paintings held disturbing undertones and featured grotesque images from literature, history and mythology. He engraved many of the works of William Shakespeare, and in fact created a large output of engravings, the exact number being unknown. Füssli left behind many unfinished engravings, as well as a number of large scale paintings, some as large as 12 feet by 10 feet.

Though Füssli’s fame has not endured the test of time nearly as well as Blake’s, his engravings and paintings remain a testament to his great and largely unrecognized talent.

Still wondering about an 18 th century engraving or painting in your family collection? Contact us…it could be by Johann Heinrich Füssli.