FUSELI, HENRY

born Feb. 7, 1741, Zrich, Switz. died April 16, 1825, Putney Hill, London, Eng. original name Johann Heinrich Fssli Swiss-born painter whose works are among the most exotic, original, and sensual pieces of his time. Fuseli was reared in an intellectual and artistic milieu and initially studied theology. Obliged to flee Zrich because of political entanglements, he went first to Berlin, and then settled in London in 1764. He was encouraged to become a painter by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and he left England in 1768 to study in Italy until 1778. During his stay in Rome he studied the works of Michelangelo and classical art, which became his major stylistic influences; his subject matter was chiefly literary. Fuseli is famous for his paintings and drawings of nude figures caught in strained and violent poses suggestive of intense emotion. He also had a penchant for inventing macabre fantasies, such as that in The Nightmare (1781). He had a noticeable influence on the style of his younger contemporary, William Blake. In 1788 Fuseli was elected an associate of the Royal Academy, becoming a full academician two years later. During 17991805 and again from 1810 he was professor of painting at the Royal Academy. He was appointed keeper of the Academy in 1804.