The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke, by Richard Dadd

Richard Dadd (August 1, 1819 - January 7, 1886) was a Victorian painter of fairy subjects, in obsessively minuscule detail of fairies and other supernatural subjects. A talented early career led to admission to the Royal Academy of Arts at the age of 20.
During a trip to the Middle East and Europe in 1842, Dadd became progressively less rational, and increasingly violent.
On his return, he was diagnosed to be of unsound mind, and was taken by his family to recuperate in the countryside village of Cobham, Kent. In 1843, Dadd murdered his father with a knife whilst deluded, believing him to be the Devil in disguise, and fled for France; en route for Paris Dadd attempted to murder another tourist with a razor, but was unsuccessful and was arrested by the police. Dadd confessed to the murder of his father and was returned to England.
He was committed to Bethlem psychiatric hospital, and was diagnosed as having what is now known as bipolar disorder. In hospital he was allowed to continue to paint and it was here that many of his masterpieces were created. He was later transferred to Broadmoor, another psychiatric hospital.
Dadd's most extraordinary achievement is the enigmatic The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke (1855-64), a hallucinatory vision of fantastic creatures, seen as if with a magnifying glass through a delicate network of grasses and flowers. All are watching the fairy woodman (or 'feller') aiming his axe at a hazelnut, a moment pregnant with never-to-be-explained significance.
Music by Penguin Cafe Orchestra, 'Cutting branches for a temporary shelter'.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Richard
• Dadd
• pittura
• arte
• Fairy
• Feller's
• Master-Stroke

[LILACTIME]

'never-to-be-explained significance'...not quite!...the picture shows the fairy-feller poised to split a large chestnut which will be used to construct Queen Mabs new fairy carriage...there's no real mystery to it!

[shivabel]

Yes, that's right...Dadd was also inspired by the Shakespeare's works, in this case by 'Romeo and Juliet' act I, scene 4, about Queen Mab:"...Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut, made by the joiner squirrel or old grub..." (You can also see Oberon and Titania among the characters of this painting). Anyway, the queerness of the entire scene and the odd proportions, are undeniable

[shivabel]

This video is dedicated to my german friend André ;-)

[fokker313]

perhaps the music works for certain individuals however the vast majority of art and music fans, agree that that the Queen song Fairy Feller (as in to fall a tree), is more appropriate for interesting personal interpretation

[knoxrembrandt]

2 mal stand ich vor dem Original in London und war EHRfürchtig.

[MsMagicalCat]

This is really good,must admit even tho' an unusual choice...the music really works very well....with love to all the faerie folk out there....

[emy601000]

marvelous painting. Its a pity colors are more reddish. Hard to believe he had a mental illness. He depicts his imagination there is a border between border between fantasy en reality cause he knows exacltly what he is painting.

[Msjmsc]

'The 'fairy feller's master stroke' is one of my most favorite songs from Queen. Freddie Mercury (lead singer) was inspired to write the song after seeing this wonderful painting from Richard Dadd. Take time to listen to the song while looking at the painting...it would be a wonderful experience :) :) :)

[JIAKU666]

thank you for this

[Terpsichore33]

fascinating!!

[joshje777]

Magic painting !!!

When Dadd was insane...I must be very, very, very crazy.....

[DomusDeJanasVII]

Excellent posting !

Thank you.

[AnEclecticMusicFan]

Dadd was committed to Bethlem hospital - it was also known as bedlam which is where the saying come from 'it was bedlam.!'