For Bliss and Irish Watches

John Simmons was in the top echelon of Faerie painters . . .

John Simmons

Hermia & Lysander — A Mid Summer Night's Dream

Below is a fragment of a Thomas Hood poem that I like, from the 1870s, and wanted to tie it into some image and I thought the above painting was as good as any, even though it be out of context.

Below, two zoom-ins from the painting to show the gorgeous detail that is rife with life around the perimeter.

There Lies Titania

My favorite Faerie painting by John Simmons is below, There Lies Titania. This scan is from a print I bought in a mystical shop in Glastonbury, a place where you can believe in anything.

Faeries of a 'Lesser Painter'

John Simmons (1823—1876) has been termed a 'lesser' faerie painter of his time—partially I think because he painted pin-ups with gossamer wings. But, well, um, he was pretty good with botanical painting too.