Puck

Artist William Dyce (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1806 - 1864)

Associated Puck

Date1825

Mediumcharcoal on grey paper

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 30.5 cm, Width: 22.4 cm
Frame: Height: 55.6 cm, Width: 40.4 cm

AcquisitionBequeathed in 1972 by the executors of the late Mr Leonard Duke CBE.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG003235

Keywords

About MeThis is one of several drawings that William Dyce made of the character of Puck from Shakespeare's comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream. His composition may be based on a well known study of Puck by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92) that had been engraved for a series of Shakespeare prints but Dyce has added an owl, whom Puck mentions in Act V Scene I of the play:

Now the wasted brands do glow,
Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud,
Puts the wretch that lies in woe
In remembrance of a shroud.

This is a rare example of Dyce in comic mood: he has given Puck reptilian 'wings' and has made the owl comically cross-eyed, due to the pressure of Puck's hug.

More About Me

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A rare example of Dyce in comic mode, this shows a very young dragon-winged Puck hugging an owl hard enough to make it cross-eyed