Art Collections Online

Teiresias foretells the Future to Odysseus

FUSELI, Henry (1741 - 1825)

Media: oil on canvas

Size: 91.0 x 77.8 cm

Acquired: 1973; Purchase

Accession Number: NMW A 80

The Swiss artist Fuseli studied in Rome before settling in England in 1779, where he became famous for his paintings of literary themes. A friend of Mary Wollstonecraft and William Blake, he was elected Professor of Painting and Keeper of the Royal Academy. Fuseli had been fascinated by Homer's Odyssey since the 1760s. Published as an engraving in 1804, this composition depicts the visit of Odysseus to Teiresias in the Underworld. Between the two is the shadow of Odysseus's mother Anticleia.

Comments (8)

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Neil Lebeter Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Staff
25 October 2018, 16:17

Hello Wanda,

Thank you for your enquiry. There is not a definitive date recorded for this work, and as you rightly note there are differing references out there. As in the description on our catalogue, it was certainly painted pre-1804 when an engraving was made of the work. Gert Schiff in Johann Heinrich Füssli, 1741-1825, Volume 2 (1973) has this dated between 1780 – 1785 (no. 798, pp. 500).

Best wishes,
Neil

Wanda Zyborska
24 October 2018, 15:20
Can you tell me the date of the Fuseli painting, Tiresias Foretells the Future to Odysseus? I seem to have two dates, 1800 and 1780.

Best wishes

Wanda
Sara Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Staff
20 June 2016, 11:47

Hi Wanda,

Just to follow up, this was taken off display at the end of May so that we could do some essential repair work. When that work is finished, it will go back on display.

Thanks for your enquiry

Sara
Digital Team

Sara Huws Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Staff
13 June 2016, 11:11

Hi Wanda - I will check with our Department of Art and get back to you.

Thanks for your comment

Sara
Digital Team

Wanda Zyborska
12 June 2016, 16:50

When was the painting taken down and put in storage?

tats
28 February 2011, 09:50
it's alright, I already found one. Thank you very much =)
Amgueddfa Cymru Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Staff
23 February 2011, 08:56
Dear tats, this artwork is not on public display at the moment. If you would like to make an appointment to see the work in store please contact the art department: art@museumwales.ac.uk
Thank you for your interest in Amgueddfa Cymru
tats
23 February 2011, 08:54
where is this painting found???????
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