Richard Dadd

Around 1837, Dadd founded 'The Clique', a group of young artists at the Royal Academy. He was considered the leading talent of the group and a rising star of the Victorian art world.¹

In 1842, Dadd accompanied Sir Thomas Phillips on an expedition to the Middle East. The scenes he witnessed in Egypt and Turkey laid the foundation for his later Orientalist themes and detailed style.¹

In late 1842, while traveling the Nile, Dadd became delusional, believing himself under the influence of the god Osiris. This dramatic personality change was a pivotal turning point in his life and art.¹

In 1843, Dadd killed his father, believing him to be the Devil. He was arrested in France, diagnosed as insane, and committed to the criminal department of Bethlem Hospital (Bedlam).¹

Dadd spent over 40 years in psychiatric hospitals but continued to paint thanks to enlightened doctors. Most of his masterpieces were created within hospital walls, relying on memory and imagination.¹

In the 1850s, he produced 'Sketches to Illustrate the Passions', focusing on human emotions like grief and madness. His sharp observational eye, turned inward, is condensed into these small-scale works.¹

His masterpiece, 'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke', was painted over nine years starting in 1855. Its incredible density of overlapping flora and fairies makes it his most celebrated, though unfinished, work.¹

After his death, Dadd's unique artistry was rediscovered. Notably, Freddie Mercury of Queen was inspired by Dadd's painting to write the song 'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke'.¹