ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Henry Fuseli's 'The Nightmare': A Gothic Masterpiece of Sleep Paralysis and the Unconscious

other · 2026-09-06

Swiss artist Henry Fuseli (1741–1825) painted 'The Nightmare' in 1781, which was first shown at the Royal Academy in 1782 and is currently housed at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Initially trained in theology, Fuseli became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1788, achieved full Academician status in 1790, and was appointed Professor of Painting in 1799. The artwork portrays a slumbering woman with an incubus on her chest and a mare lurking behind curtains, devoid of moral messages. It alludes to sleep paralysis and the subconscious. Drawing inspiration from theater, the piece showcases dramatic contrasts and flowing red drapery. This gothic masterpiece has been widely reproduced and may have influenced Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein.'

Key facts

  • Henry Fuseli (1741–1825) was a Swiss artist who lived mostly in Britain.
  • The Nightmare was painted in 1781 and first exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1782.
  • The painting is in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
  • Fuseli was ordained as a Zwinglian minister in 1761 and later became a Royal Academician in 1790.
  • The painting depicts a sleeping woman, an incubus, and a mare.
  • The incubus is a demonic spirit, and the mare is an evil night spirit.
  • Samuel Johnson defined 'mare' in his 1755 dictionary.
  • The painting is interpreted as a representation of sleep paralysis.
  • Fuseli was influenced by theater, including Shakespeare's works.
  • The red drapes symbolize blood.
  • Some critics see the painting as a response to Fuseli's unrequited love for Anna Landolt.
  • Thomas Burke made a stipple engraving of the painting in 1783.
  • The painting may have inspired Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

Locations

  • Switzerland
  • Britain
  • London
  • UK
  • Detroit
  • MI
  • USA

Sources

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