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The Spirit of Knowledge by Henry Fuseli — VisualArtsDB

The Spirit of Knowledge

The Spirit of Knowledge

1798

Medium: Black chalk and brush and gray wash on ivory laid paper
Dimensions: 18.2 × 22.3 cm (7 3/16 × 8 13/16 in.)
Genre: chalk and wash
Museum: Art Institute of Chicago

Tags

drawings (visual works)prints and drawingpaperchalk and washpaper (fiber product)

About

One of the most original and probing artists of the late 18th century, Fuseli worked principally in London but went to Rome for eight years beginning in 1770. The influence of Michelangelo’s prophets and sibyls is tangible in this allegorical figure, probably drawn in London a decade after he left Rome; at this time Fuseli had recently met William Blake, who treated a similar subject in his Book of Job.

More by Henry Fuseli

A Woman Sitting by the Window (“Evening Thou Bringest All”), from the first issue of Specimens of Polyautography

A Woman Sitting by the Window (“Evening Thou Bringest All”), from the first issue of Specimens of Polyautography

Henry Fuseli, 1803

2. Caricature of Northcote

2. Caricature of Northcote

Henry Fuseli

Theodore Meets in the Wood the Specter of His Ancestor Guido Cavalcanti, Chasing with Mastiffs His Former Disdainful Mistress

Theodore Meets in the Wood the Specter of His Ancestor Guido Cavalcanti, Chasing with Mastiffs His Former Disdainful Mistress

Henry Fuseli, 1783

Self-Portrait and Anatomical Studies. Verso: Two Male Anatomical Studies

Self-Portrait and Anatomical Studies. Verso: Two Male Anatomical Studies

Henry Fuseli, 1783

The Slaying of Red Comyn by Robert the Bruce

The Slaying of Red Comyn by Robert the Bruce

Henry Fuseli, 1810

Portrait of Fuseli (recto); Sketch of a Hand (verso)

Portrait of Fuseli (recto); Sketch of a Hand (verso)

Henry Fuseli, 1761

Studies of Nudes

Studies of Nudes

Henry Fuseli, 1761

Aided by Eeriboia, Hermes Carries Off the Exhausted Ares from the Sleeping Sons of Aloeus (recto); Sketch of One of the Sleeping Sons of Aloeus (verso)

Aided by Eeriboia, Hermes Carries Off the Exhausted Ares from the Sleeping Sons of Aloeus (recto); Sketch of One of the Sleeping Sons of Aloeus (verso)

Henry Fuseli, 1819

The Night-Hag Visiting Lapland Witches

The Night-Hag Visiting Lapland Witches

Henry Fuseli, 1796

Sheet of Studies: Three Female Heads, an Arm and a Hand. Verso: Heroic Male Nude and a Face in Profile

Henry Fuseli, 1817

Ugolino and His Sons Starving to Death in the Tower

Ugolino and His Sons Starving to Death in the Tower

Henry Fuseli, 1806

Seated Troubadour Looking at Woman Asleep on Ledge

Seated Troubadour Looking at Woman Asleep on Ledge

Henry Fuseli, 1750