The painter Henry Fuseli (Johann Heinrich Füssli) is one of the most distinctive artists of the late eighteenth century.

His works combine dramatic staging, striking contrasts of light and shadow, and a strong engagement with literary sources. Shakespeare, Greek tragedy, and John Milton’s Paradise Lost were among the most important inspirations for his imagery.

The publication Fuseli: Drama and Theatre explores the close relationship between painting, literature, and the stage in Fuseli’s work. It examines the artist’s engagement with dramatic texts and their visual translation into highly expressive compositions. Fuseli’s scenes are marked by heightened gestures, intense emotional contrasts, and often a supernatural atmosphere.

Although Fuseli is frequently associated with the nightmarish visions of early Romanticism, this volume focuses on the theatrical dimension of his art. The essays investigate how literary sources and eighteenth century theatre culture shaped Fuseli’s visual language and contributed to the reception and promotion of his work. Richly illustrated, the book provides a comprehensive insight into the dramatic imagination that defines Fuseli’s art.