Tannhäuser: Venusberg
1876
Henri Fantin-Latour French, 1836-1904
France
Richard Wagner's opera Tannhaüser was first interpreted by Henri Fantin-Latour in 1862. This second revised version of Venusberg was Fantin-Latour's first attempt at transfer lithography, a printing method in which the artist's drawing is transferred directly onto a lithographic stone. Here, Tannhaüser is depicted in Venus's realm of sensual delights. Nymphs dance to the music of a flute player, and Venus reclines upon Tannhaüser's lap, gazing passionately into his eyes.
Lithograph in black with scraping on stone on grayish-ivory chine laid down on thick ivory wove paper