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Tasso in Disguise Relating his Persecutions to his Sister
Tasso in Disguise Relating his Persecutions to his Sister

Tasso in Disguise Relating his Persecutions to his Sister

Artist (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1817 - 1867)
Datec. 1840
Mediumoil on canvas
ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings
DimensionsOverall: Height: 101.3 cm, Width: 127.1 cm
Frame: Height: 130.6 cm, Width: 155.8 cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1951 by Mrs L H Baron.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG004137
About MeThe romantic and tragic tale of the famous Italian poet Torquato Tasso (1544-1595), had been popularised by Goëthe in a play of 1790 and more recently by Lord Byron in his poem of 1817, The Lament of Tasso.

In The Lament of Tasso Byron documents the poet's struggle with mental illness (now thought to have been schizophrenia) which included manic interludes, during which he had to be hospitalised for his own safety. Here Tasso is seen relating his mental persecutions to his sister Leonora.

The subject was a tragic portent of the circumstances of Phillip's own private life, which, over the next few years, was to be blighted by the mental illness of those nearest to him. The painting appears stiff and shows evidence of Phillip having struggled with the figure drawing - especially the foreshortening of Tasso's right arm. Nevertheless it was deemed good enough to be accepted for the annual exhibition of the Royal Academy; though it was hung in the Architectural Room and consequently missed by many visitors.

More About Me
Both Goethe and Byron popularised the story of Tasso, the 16th century Italian poet, who struggled with mental illness, something which also affected the artist.