By DARLA MCCAMMON

Lakeland Arts Association

The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke

WARSAW — Back to our series of unusual and eccentric artists we discover a Victorian age painter named Richard Dadd.  Dadd was born in Kent England.  His father was a chemist so there was intelligence in the gene pool. Young Dadd showed promise as an artist from a young age and was admitted to the Royal Aademy of Arts at the age of 20.  He excelled in art and illustrating, forming The “Clique” and becoming it’s most talented member.  He illustrated “The Book of British Ballads” in 1842 and was developing a following for his work at this time.

Because of his talent the high-ranking Sir Thomas Phillips hired Dadd to use his artistic ability to travel with, and capture, an expedition in pictures.  Dadd was to draft and draw the history of the trip.  Their travels took them through Europe, then Greece, Turkey Syria and Egypt.  In November they had a particularly difficult and grueling time passing through Southern Syria, Jerusalem, Jordan and returning across the challenging Engaddi wilderness.  About a month later, while they were boating up the Nile River, Dadd began exhibiting strange behavior.  He became delusional, violent, and told those traveling with him that he was under the control of the Egyptian god Osiris.   His fellow travelers became alarmed, then attributed this to sunstroke, but continued to encourage him to paint and draw. His art work was excellent.

When the expedition finally returned, his family was consulted and took Dadd to the country in order to recuperate.  Unfortunately, Dadd lapsed into a complete nervous breakdown, decided his father was the Devil, then took a knife and killed his father.  Dadd then escaped to France where he tried to kill another person but was apprehended, taken back to England and locked up in the psychiatric hospital known as Bedlam.  Today it is believed Dadd and two, possibly three, of his siblings were afflicted with paranoid schizophrenia.

Dadd was encouraged to continue painting while incarcerated.  He began executing masterpieces while in the psychiatric hospital including “The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke.”  This painting took him nine years to complete.  This painting inspired the British rock band “Queen” to create a song. Other books, plays and radio programs have referenced this painting.  Dadd’s work was exquisite, detailed, and sadly, the work of a very ill man.  Yet in spite of this mental illness he was able to leave behind a legacy, and his art helped him get through the darkness that possessed him.  He remained a prisoner until his death.

Upcoming and Current Events: 

• Paul Ramain exhibit at Warsaw City Hall. Open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free Admission.
• Teresa Breading is back to LAA on Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. to teach a watercolor class; $25 includes all supplies.
• Also coming soon to Lakeland Art, an artisan’s fair at the fairgrounds. Stay tuned for information.

For more information on topics in this column, please contact Darla McCammon at [email protected] or (574) 527-4044. Older columns at www.darlamc.com