“There sleeps Titania sometimes of the night
“Lull’d to these flowers with dances and delight.” —Richard Dodd
Do you believe in fairies?
Well, you should!
The dancers skip off downhill and disappear. Titania Sleeping painted by Richard Dodd was well received and proved to be influential on other fairy painters such as Huskisson and Fitzgerald. In the early 1840s Dodd produced a series of exquisitely painted fairy pictures that established him as a leading painter in the field.
Sadly, he killed his father and fled to France. He spent the remainder of his life in mental institutions. He produced his greatest masterpieces during his confinement. His most complex and original of all fairy paintings was The Fairy Feller’s Master Stroke which depicts a web of grasses to the secret activities of fairy folk. It includes figures from a nursery rhyme of soldier, sailor, tinker, tailor, ploughboy, apothecary, thief.
In an intriguing book entitled Fairy Art, Artists and Inspirations by Iain Zaczek, published in 2006, we see many of the beautiful fairyland paintings and witness the genius of the little folk. The pages of this book are exciting and gorgeous.
Myths and folk traditions stretch back to ancient times. For some, fairies are seen as fallen angels or as gods who have lost their powers. Fairies are spirits who protect our vanished ancestors. Good fairies may help with housework and can be rewarded with a bowl of milk or a morsel of bread. Daniel Maclise, born in Cork, Ireland, painted Undine in 1844 and Queen Victoria purchased it as a birthday present for Prince Albert. The painting was one of his finest.
Whimsical and provocative are the paintings of the late 19th Century. Those who found favor with the little people were rewarded. When a hunchback by the name of Lusmore pleased them with a song, the fairies took away his hump and gave him a brand new suit of clothes. Now I am aware that some of my readers will not believe in the existence of fairies, angels, elves, cupids, and such, and that is perfectly fine with me.
I believe.
Under moonlight, elf maidens had a shimmering allure that most men found irresistible. They sang as sweetly and their dances were full of grace. In their hearts men remained under the spell of their elf maid.
Lady Oswald specialized in depicting tiny fairies dwarfed by the everyday flowers that surround them. James Edwards produced a series of uplifting remarks to accompany each of the flower engravings. Books about flowers and fairies began to flourish in 1837.
And thus on every street and boulevard, it is the season to celebrate Valentine’s Day and all things romantic and beautiful. Enjoy this week with fairy surprises and cupid delights. Think Fanny May Pixies and white roses for your sweetheart.