The Fairy Feller’s Master Stroke-Richard Dadd 1855-1864As well as attacking the current prevailing psychiatric view of madness (Breton’s Nadja was a call to arms in this respect, stated that if he was institutionalised he would take advantage of his madness and kill someone, preferably a doctor) the Surrealist’s championed the art of the insane. As has often been stated, madness and dreams share an affinity in that they both posit a convincing alternative reality, at least while a person is under the spell.
I am not sure that the Surrealists had any direct knowledge of one of the most extraordinary examples of art produced by an inmate of an asylum (as he was a professionally trained artist his work cannot be classified as what is now known as outsider art) Richard Dadd’s The Fairy Feller’s Master Stroke, however the hyper-realism of the fairy scene and the remarkable detail in every obsessive brush-stroke pre-figures the work of Dali and Magritte.
Really lovely details. There was a great museum in NYC–Folk art museum that had some Outsider Art. But it was a victim of the rents and shuttered, moving to another location but only a shell of its former self.
…I have 3 pieces of exquisite and interesting artwork hanging in my house, created by an inmate at a very famous prison near where I live. I am not sure if he was insane…but your piece made me think of this. Thanks for sharing Cake! Your posts are always interesting and informative. (sometimes…especially as of late…they are kinda hot too! lol) Hope your having a great day.
This is spectacular. Again I think I’m drawn to these pieces that have all the little details. So much to take in. Was Dadd committed at the time he produced this or out? Also you are still not showing up in my e-mail again. I will try the unfollow/follow again… Sigh…
I don’t think it was pleasant but he probably had it a little easier.. De Sade was also in an mental asylum for a long period, Charenton where he directed plays that starred the inmates that was attended by the fashionable Parisian set
He was an aristocrat and he was banged up for a total of 37 years… the charenton plays are the subject of two movies.. Marat/Sade (this is very Brechtian/Artaudian) and Quills (Hollywood gothic but enjoyable).
I will check the films out. The thing that strikes me as strange is that his nobility couldn’t keep him from landing behind bars, but that once there he was able to carry on as he did. I mean staging plays and drawing the Paris elite?
Marat/Sade is good, not exactly a barrel of laughs but good. Quills is enjoyable, de Sade comes across like a reclusive rock star. Ah De Sade was a urbane fucker.
I am bit sure, the surrealist were very interested in the art of the insane but Dadd only enjoyed a vogue of fashionability in the 60’s so I am really not sure.
“The Fairy Feller’s Master Stroke” is amazing in it’s detail, yet it’s almost disturbing. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s some of the odd little characters, they are reminiscent of a bad dream or nightmare.
So it would seem that every time we go to sleep we’re under the spell of madness, entering an alternative reality. I like that! Thank you Mr. Cake, for the introduction to Richard Dadd, thrilled to learn about him. For me it has the same sort of creep factor as Hieronymus Bosch, which is not a bad thing at all. ~ Miss Cranes
Well the idea was first suggested by Plato and then advanced considerably by the good old Bishop Berkeley that our perception of reality is unverifiable by the senses and posit the case of dreams and madness as an illustration on that fact, because when dreaming or in the grip of an illusion that is also a convincing reality, though they say it much more elegantly than I ever could.i agree there is something disturbing about this picture, you can see why it was very popular (in the U.K anyway) during the trippy 60’s. The hyper-realism and the obsessive attention to detail is very impressive. Glad you enjoyed.
It is certainly a vivid fantasy and he worked on it for a number of years. I am certainly not going to argue. This one is a little bit different, I want my site to be cohesive but not monotonous (easier said than done I know).
Yes, if I was to a dissertation it would be on the symbolist influence on Surrealism, thankfully the world will be spared that. Plus I am pretty good at coming up with spurious connections.
cakeordeathsite 
Really lovely details. There was a great museum in NYC–Folk art museum that had some Outsider Art. But it was a victim of the rents and shuttered, moving to another location but only a shell of its former self.
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…I have 3 pieces of exquisite and interesting artwork hanging in my house, created by an inmate at a very famous prison near where I live. I am not sure if he was insane…but your piece made me think of this. Thanks for sharing Cake! Your posts are always interesting and informative. (sometimes…especially as of late…they are kinda hot too! lol) Hope your having a great day.
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Thank you, it is lovely to know that what I find interesting also interests others. I am interested in these pieces of artwork.
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If this guy was insane I definitely like his type of insanity 🙂
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He murdered his father, he was also a gifted obsessive artist.
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Hmmm. Well sometimes murder is justified… I wonder what the circumstances were?
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I believe he had a psychotic break… I think he was quite disturbed and suspect to violence and delusion, painting calmed him
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Interesting. Genius/ madness 🙂
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Fine line
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This is spectacular. Again I think I’m drawn to these pieces that have all the little details. So much to take in. Was Dadd committed at the time he produced this or out? Also you are still not showing up in my e-mail again. I will try the unfollow/follow again… Sigh…
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Yes he murdered his father in a psychotic episode (only it wasn’t called that back then) and spent the rest of his life in Bedlam I believe
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Amazing. It’s a wonder it survived…
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He was encouraged to paint, it kept him calm and pre occupied, plus they knew he was an artist. And my piece on it?
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Ah, that makes sense. I have this image of an asylum in that age, perhaps as an acclaimed artist his treatment wasn’t quite as gruesome as I picture
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I don’t think it was pleasant but he probably had it a little easier.. De Sade was also in an mental asylum for a long period, Charenton where he directed plays that starred the inmates that was attended by the fashionable Parisian set
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Also, your piece of course, is excellent. Sorry forgot to say that. That De Sade was given such liberty is astounding.
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He was an aristocrat and he was banged up for a total of 37 years… the charenton plays are the subject of two movies.. Marat/Sade (this is very Brechtian/Artaudian) and Quills (Hollywood gothic but enjoyable).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will check the films out. The thing that strikes me as strange is that his nobility couldn’t keep him from landing behind bars, but that once there he was able to carry on as he did. I mean staging plays and drawing the Paris elite?
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He was an aristocrat but he wasn’t that well connected compared to say, Richelieu. The plays were again a progressive art therapy approach
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Marat/Sade is good, not exactly a barrel of laughs but good. Quills is enjoyable, de Sade comes across like a reclusive rock star. Ah De Sade was a urbane fucker.
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Hahaha! That’s brilliant!
Back to your post, you don’t know if the Surrealists were aware of Dadd?
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I am bit sure, the surrealist were very interested in the art of the insane but Dadd only enjoyed a vogue of fashionability in the 60’s so I am really not sure.
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Your post disappeared for a few minutes… That was really weird.
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Strange things happen on my site it is cakeordeath after all
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I am always concerned that it might be me… I’ve imagined entire conversations in my head before! (Granted not typed though)
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Hmmm reasons to be concerned?
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Probably not. Too much time in my own head. Probably… *wink*
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Surprised you didn’t comment on the whole Nadja comment
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That Breton would purposely use madness as an excuse?
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Yes the medical profession was up in arms at the time, saying he was enticing violence against the medical profession
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Always the instigator. Justified … Though dramatic in nature
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“The Fairy Feller’s Master Stroke” is amazing in it’s detail, yet it’s almost disturbing. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s some of the odd little characters, they are reminiscent of a bad dream or nightmare.
So it would seem that every time we go to sleep we’re under the spell of madness, entering an alternative reality. I like that! Thank you Mr. Cake, for the introduction to Richard Dadd, thrilled to learn about him. For me it has the same sort of creep factor as Hieronymus Bosch, which is not a bad thing at all. ~ Miss Cranes
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Well the idea was first suggested by Plato and then advanced considerably by the good old Bishop Berkeley that our perception of reality is unverifiable by the senses and posit the case of dreams and madness as an illustration on that fact, because when dreaming or in the grip of an illusion that is also a convincing reality, though they say it much more elegantly than I ever could.i agree there is something disturbing about this picture, you can see why it was very popular (in the U.K anyway) during the trippy 60’s. The hyper-realism and the obsessive attention to detail is very impressive. Glad you enjoyed.
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Even with its disturbing nature, you almost can’t look away. (Who is going to argue as to the reality of a madman, only someone equally as mad.)
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It is certainly a vivid fantasy and he worked on it for a number of years. I am certainly not going to argue. This one is a little bit different, I want my site to be cohesive but not monotonous (easier said than done I know).
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It’s a delight to see you posting about other fabulous artist and their artwork, they still fit into your genre, don’t you think?
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Yes, if I was to a dissertation it would be on the symbolist influence on Surrealism, thankfully the world will be spared that. Plus I am pretty good at coming up with spurious connections.
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Ah, there you go! Well it’s all good stuff, to put it simply!
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Thank you so much, I do try.
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You’re welcome. I hope you know, I think you have a wonderful site.
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