Theodor von Holst

The Fairy Lovers

c.1840

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display
Artist
Theodor von Holst 1810–1844
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 413 x 311 mm
frame: 537 x 437 x 80 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1972
Reference
T01518

Catalogue entry

Theodore von Hoist 1810–1844

T01518 The Fairy Lovers c.1840

Not inscribed.
Canvas, 16¼ x 12¼ (41 x 31).
Purchased at Christie’s (Gytha Trust) 1972.
Coll: Rev. George Cuff, sold Fawkham Rectory, Kent, 9 February 1887, bt. John Ames; by descent to M.Ames, sold Christie’s, 18 February 1972 (283), bt. Agnew’s for the Tate Gallery.

This picture was sold at Christie’s together with Hoist’s ‘A milkmaid and her lover’ (284), also from the collection of the Reverend George Cuff, but painted on board and a bit larger, 19½ x 14 in.; the two pictures of lovers do not therefore seem to have been conceived as pendants.

An identification with Titania and Oberon, from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is possible.

Published in The Tate Gallery Report 1970–1972, London 1972.

Explore

You might like

George Frederic Watts, ‘A Story from Boccaccio’ c.1844–7

George Frederic Watts A Story from Boccaccio

c.1844–7
N01913
Frederic George Stephens, ‘The Proposal (The Marquis and Griselda)’ c.1850

Frederic George Stephens The Proposal (The Marquis and Griselda)

c.1850
N04633
Henry Perronet Briggs, ‘Romeo and Juliet - Act II Scene 5 (‘Juliet and her Nurse’)’ exhibited 1827

Henry Perronet Briggs Romeo and Juliet - Act II Scene 5 (‘Juliet and her Nurse’)

exhibited 1827
N00376
Henry Singleton, ‘Ariel on a Bat’s Back’ exhibited 1819

Henry Singleton Ariel on a Bat’s Back

exhibited 1819
N01027
Augustus Leopold Egg, ‘Past and Present, No. 2’ 1858

Augustus Leopold Egg Past and Present, No. 2

1858
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N03279
William Etty, ‘The Parting of Hero and Leander’ exhibited 1827

William Etty The Parting of Hero and Leander

exhibited 1827
N05614
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Between Decks’ 1827

Joseph Mallord William Turner Between Decks

1827
N01996
Robert Huskisson, ‘The Midsummer Night’s Fairies’ exhibited 1847

Robert Huskisson The Midsummer Night’s Fairies

exhibited 1847
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T01901
Arthur Hughes, ‘The Eve of St Agnes’ 1856

Arthur Hughes The Eve of St Agnes

1856
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N04604
Augustus Leopold Egg, ‘Past and Present, No. 3’ 1858

Augustus Leopold Egg Past and Present, No. 3

1858
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N03280
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Lovers’ after c.1830

Joseph Mallord William Turner The Lovers

after c.1830
View by appointment D36089
Thomas Faed, ‘Faults on Both Sides’ 1861

Thomas Faed Faults on Both Sides

1861
N01526
John Phillip, ‘The Prison Window’ 1857

John Phillip The Prison Window

1857
N01908
Arthur Hughes, ‘April Love’ 1855–6

Arthur Hughes April Love

1855–6
N02476
Thomas Stothard, ‘Shakespearean Characters’ exhibited 1813

Thomas Stothard Shakespearean Characters

exhibited 1813
N01830