Johann Heinrich Füssli, better known by his united name Henry Fuseli (1741-1825), was a Swiss-British painter, draughtsman and writer, best known for his dramatic and often dark works exploring the imagination of the subconscious and the supernatural. Born in Zurich as the son of a portrait painter and art historian, Fuseli initially studied theology and worked briefly as a preacher, but left this vocation after political difficulties. In 1764, he travelled to England, where he was encouraged by artist Sir Joshua Reynolds to devote himself to painting.
Fuseli then spent eight years in Italy, where he was inspired by Michelangelo and classical antiquity. Back in England, he established himself as a prominent figure within Romantic art. His most famous work, The Nightmare (1781), shows his fascination with dreams, fear and eroticism. Fuseli was also active as a writer and translator, publishing reviews and essays on art.
He became a member of the Royal Academy and later a professor of painting. His work is characterised by powerful compositions, distorted anatomy and theatrical scenes, paving the way for later romantics such as William Blake. Fuseli died in London in 1825.
