Fairy painting is closely linked to the Victorian era, focusing on artwork depicting fairies and other supernatural subjects.
The Victorian era witnessed a fascination with fairies and the supernatural, giving rise to a unique form of art that depicted these mystical subjects, drawing inspiration from myth, legend, and notably Shakespeare's play ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’. Early examples, predating the Victorian era, can be found in the works of artists such as Henry Fuseli, William Blake, and Theodore Von Holst.
Subsequently, Richard Dadd created significant paintings, while the most consistent and captivating contributions came from John Anster Fitzgerald. Notable fairy illustrations were also produced by Richard Doyle, and various painters, including Charles Landseer and even Turner, made their contributions to this genre. Fairy painting reached its zenith in the illustrated books of Arthur Rackham, particularly during the period around 1900 to 1914.
