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Lot Essay
The present drawing relates closely to the engraving executed by Johann Heinrich Lips, Zurich, 1807. The present drawing may be by Lips himself and either executed in preparation for the engraving or possibly after the engraving. Lips was a known figure in the circle of Fuseli, he produced an engraving of Satan's head after Fuseli for the French edition of Johann Caspar Lavater's, Physiognomonie, 1781-86, vol. II, illustrated p. 255, pl. LXI.
There are three other versions of this drawing by Fuseli, listed in the catalogue raisonné, G. Schiff, Johann Heinrich Fuseli, Oeuvrekatalog, 1973, nos. 482, 483, 483a, all in public collections at Stockholm, the British Museum, London and Cleveland. There is also an oil painting of the subject, which has greater similarities with the engraving than the drawings, which was exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1780, no. 179 and was included in the Nureyev sale; Christie's, London, 13 January 1995, lot 146. Interestingly the drawing in the British Museum has Fuseli's characteristic left-handed hatching; while the diagonal lines in the trees in the present drawing are more characteristic of a right-handed draftsman. The figures of Adam and Eve are more neoclassical in feel in the present drawing.
The drawing illustrates a scene from Milton's Paradise Lost, book IV, 741-820. Satan, pursuing his evil schemes to seduce mankind from God, sneaks into the Garden of Eden and disguises himself as a toad and creeps up on Adam and Eve as they sleep. However he is seen by Ithuriel, one of the angelic guards entrusted with Paradise's safety. Armed with spears, the Archangels Ithuriel and Zephon hover above Adam and Eve as they sleep. As Ituriel's spear grazes Satan's ankle he rises to the air also armed with a shield and spear.
We are grateful to Professor David Weinglass for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.
There are three other versions of this drawing by Fuseli, listed in the catalogue raisonné, G. Schiff, Johann Heinrich Fuseli, Oeuvrekatalog, 1973, nos. 482, 483, 483a, all in public collections at Stockholm, the British Museum, London and Cleveland. There is also an oil painting of the subject, which has greater similarities with the engraving than the drawings, which was exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1780, no. 179 and was included in the Nureyev sale; Christie's, London, 13 January 1995, lot 146. Interestingly the drawing in the British Museum has Fuseli's characteristic left-handed hatching; while the diagonal lines in the trees in the present drawing are more characteristic of a right-handed draftsman. The figures of Adam and Eve are more neoclassical in feel in the present drawing.
The drawing illustrates a scene from Milton's Paradise Lost, book IV, 741-820. Satan, pursuing his evil schemes to seduce mankind from God, sneaks into the Garden of Eden and disguises himself as a toad and creeps up on Adam and Eve as they sleep. However he is seen by Ithuriel, one of the angelic guards entrusted with Paradise's safety. Armed with spears, the Archangels Ithuriel and Zephon hover above Adam and Eve as they sleep. As Ituriel's spear grazes Satan's ankle he rises to the air also armed with a shield and spear.
We are grateful to Professor David Weinglass for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.