John Anster Christian Fitzgerald (1819 – 1906) was a Victorian era fairy painter and portrait artist. He was nicknamed “Fairy Fitzgerald” for his main genre. Many of his fairy paintings are dark and contain images of ghouls, demons, and references to drug use; his work has been compared to the surreal nightmare-scapes of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Brueghel. Reference: Wikipedia
John Anster Fitzgerald (British, 1832-1906) The Pipe Dream oil on canvas 25.1 x 30.5cm (9 7/8 x 12in).
Sold for £ 2,500 inc. premium at Bonhams in 2017
ohn Anster Fitzgerald (London 1832-1906) Death of the Fairy Queen oil on canvas 8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm.)
Sold for USD 158,500 at Christies in 2010
John Anster Fitzgerald 1832-1906 SKETCH FOR THE FAIRY’S BANQUET (RECTO); GIVING ALMS (VERSO) inscribed and signed l.r.: The original/ sketch/ of The Fairy’s Banquet/ J. A. Fitzgerald oil on board 22.5 by 29.5cm., 9 by 11 ½in.
Sold for 97,250 GBP at Sothebys in 2009
A water colour picture showing the dead robin surrounded by fairy figures in the branches of an apple tree in blossom; on the back a sektch of two people feeding a deer.
Fitzgerald is best known for his few surviving paintings of fairy subjects, of which this is one. The subject is taken from the English folk song or poem ‘Who killed Cock Robin?’ The first verse is as follows: “Who killed Cock Robin? I, said the Sparrow, With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin.” The origins of this poem are obscure but it is often thought to refer to the legend of Robin Hood. The first published version appeared in ‘Tommy Thumbs (Pretty) Song Book’ (London, 1744).
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
