Falstaff in the Laundry Basket
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| Falstaff in the Laundry Basket | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Henry Fuseli |
| Year | 1792 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, history painting |
| Dimensions | 137 cm × 170 cm (54 in × 67 in) |
| Location | Kunsthaus, Zurich |
Falstaff in the Laundry Basket is a 1792 oil painting by the Swiss-British artist Henry Fuseli. It depicts a scene inspired by William Shakespeare's comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor.[1] [2] It depicts the moment Falstaff is tricked into hiding himself in a laundry basket.
Fuseli had long been based in Britain and was known for unusual paintings, often featuring scenes from literature. The lady's costumes reflect the fashions of the time it is painted. The painting was displayed at the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1792 at Somerset House in London. Today it is in the collection of the Kunsthaus in his native Zurich, having been acquired in 1941.[3]
