nightmare nightmare oil painting anglo swiss artist creation remained best known work exhibition image famous engraved version widely distributed painting parodied political satire fame painted versions painting interpretations nightmare varied widely canvas portray simultaneously dreaming woman content nightmare horse head refer contemporary belief folklore ascribed specific meanings contemporary critics taken overt sexuality painting interpreted scholars anticipating ideas unconscious description history nightmare simultaneously offers image dream indicating effect nightmare woman dream image symbolically portraying sleeping vision depicts sleeping woman end bed head hanging exposing long neck peers viewer sleeper lying takes position believed encourage brilliant coloration set darker reds background effect create strong contrasts light shade interior contemporary fashionable contains small table rests mirror book room hung red velvet bed emerging parting curtain head horse bold eyes contemporary viewers nightmare invoked relationship horse mare work likely inspired waking dreams experienced contemporaries found experiences related beliefs like tales demons possessed people slept stories men visited horses giving rise terms riding mare riding women believed engage sex devil etymology word nightmare relate horses word derived scandinavian mythological term referring spirit sent early meaning nightmare included sleeper experience weight chest combined sleep feeling painting incorporates variety imagery associated ideas depicting mare head demon atop woman sleep dreams common subjects born nightmare unique paintings lack reference literary religious themes ordained minister known painting butler baker later produced shepherd dream inspired paradise lost ghosts based shakespeare play knowledge art history broad allowing critics propose sources painting elements antique classical renaissance art according art critic woman pose derive style figures archaeological site sicily source woman dream del proposed links horse german renaissance artist marble hill rome added horse preliminary chalk sketch owned biographer include presence painting viewed visual pun word nightmare self conscious reference folklore horse painting contributes gothic tone exhibition painting shown excited uncommon degree interest according early biographer friend painting owned currently display remained known decades later painted versions theme sold original inexpensive circulated widely beginning january earning publisher pounds short poem night mare darwin included lines expanded long poem loves plants provided interpretation legacy contemporary critics found work sexual themes years painted nightmare fallen love woman named travelling rome london niece friend swiss wrote fantasies night bed tossed wound hot tight hands fused body soul poured spirit breath strength touches commits adultery marriage proposal met disapproval woman father case love married family friend soon nightmare seen personal portrayal erotic aspects love lost art historian suggests sleeping woman represents demon claim unfinished portrait girl painting canvas portray study erotic dreams sleeping woman scholar gothic describes lying sexually receptive position woman sex object similarly argues painting intent female supported sexually overt pornographic private drawings man women painting considered representative sexual instincts related interpretations painting view dream symbol male sexual act represented horse intrusion curtain provided commentary painting exhibition brought painting enduring fame exhibition included shakespeare themed works won commission produce paintings publisher version nightmare hung home close friend publisher weekly london writers nightmare widely parodies commonly political caricature satirical scenes subjects british politician prime minister example admiral lord nelson demon mistress emma sleeper observers viewed parodies mocking likely nightmare simply vehicle ridicule subject danish painter met rome produced version nightmare danish develops work painting shows naked women asleep bed woman foreground experiencing nightmare woman stomach facing parted legs tail exposed breasts painted versions nightmare following success versions survive important canvas painted held frankfurt smaller original woman head lies left mirror opposes right demon looking woman picture pointed ears significant difference remaining versions erotic couple table influence literature nightmare likely influenced scene famous gothic novel modern familiar painting parents knew iconic imagery associated creature murder protagonist victor wife draw canvas thrown bed head hanging pale distorted features half covered hair novel biography share parallel theme infused artist emotions seeing marry man monster promises revenge victor night wedding like monster demon symbolically seeks marriage evoked nightmare short story fall house usher narrator compares painting hanging usher house work reveals gradually frame length sat heart utterly alarm shared interest quoted saying regions art dreams references nightmare children book island second panel double page spread pages twentieth centuries nightmare twentieth century psychological american writer paid visit claimed seen print nightmare displayed vienna apartment biographer chose version painting book nightmare jones mentioned paintings writings dreams included nightmare works man symbols held exhibition titled gothic blake romantic imagination february central exhibit catalogue indicated painting influence films original modern artists appears incorporated elements nightmare work room gothic film features interpretations nightmare central theme computer game 7th guest features painting animated form repeatedly stabs woman dagger stomach november produced cartoon sleeper monster film twilight saga breaking dawn displays painting sequence demon children internet season episode bbc television fall aired november bbc sets digital image painting breaks room printed copy painting appears season episode aired december bbc evidence investigation season episode adventure time aired character prince portrayed woman painting shown imagery personal conversation
The Nightmare