Titania, Bottom, and the Fairies
Engraved by: Jean Pierre Simon
Published by: John Boydell
Production Date: 1803
Medium: Stipple engraving on wove paper
Dimensions: Approx. 49.5 x 63.5 cm (platemark); 52.0 x 72.0 cm (sheet)
Description:
This engraving illustrates a key scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where Titania, queen of the fairies, is enchanted to fall in love with Bottom, whose head has been transformed into that of a donkey. Fuseli’s vision of this moment is infused with his signature romantic grotesquerie, as eerie, otherworldly fairies crowd around the couple in a darkened woodland setting. The figures swirl with dreamlike movement, evoking the supernatural, theatrical energy of Shakespeare’s play.
Fuseli’s bold interpretation, originally painted for Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery, was designed to elevate the visual representation of Shakespeare’s works, bridging literature and fine art. The stipple engraving technique used by Jean Pierre Simon captures the delicate textures and dramatic contrasts of Fuseli’s original, emphasizing the eerie beauty of the scene.
Provenance & Collectibility:
Commissioned as part of John Boydell’s ambitious Shakespeare Gallery, this print belongs to one of the most celebrated 18th-century artistic projects dedicated to Shakespearean illustration. The Boydell engravings remain highly sought-after, with impressions housed in major institutions and private collections. The Fuseli-Simon collaboration, combined with the subject matter’s enduring literary appeal, ensures its continued value for collectors of antique prints, Romantic art, and Shakespearean iconography.
Contact for Inquiry:
📧 jink@jinkink.com | 📧 Polikse@gmail.com
For further details, condition reports, or valuation requests, please reach out.
