Richard Dadd — the artist who painted fairies and killed his father
- Posted on July 12, 2026
- By The Times
- 3 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Richard Dadd, a celebrated Victorian painter renowned for his intricate fairy-themed compositions, experienced a dramatic descent into mental illness that culminated in the tragic murder of his father. This comprehensive examination explores the psychological deterioration of a once-promising Royal Academy artist, tracing his artistic brilliance alongside the disturbing events that led to his institutionalization and the enduring questions surrounding his sanity and creative legacy.
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Richard Dadd — the artist who painted fairies and killed his father
As the Royal Academy stages an exhibition of the Victorian’s artworks, Rachel Campbell Johnston explains his rise and fall into madness and murder
