A fully illustrated account of Richard Dadd's life and career, this title presents a fascinating exploration of the relationship between art and madness.

A riveting story of talent and the price it exacts, set in a richly imagined Victorian England Called the most promising artist of his generation, handsome, modest, and affectionate, Richard Dadd rubbed shoulders with the great luminaries of the Victorian Age. He grew up along the Medway with Charles Dickens and studied at the Royal Academy Schools under the brilliant and eccentric J.M.W. Turner. Based on Dadd’s tragic true story, Mad Richard follows the young artist as he develops his craft, contemplates the nature of art and fame — as he watches Dickens navigate those tricky waters — and ultimately finds himself imprisoned in Bedlam for murder, committed as criminally insane. In 1853, Charlotte Brontë — about to publish her third novel, suffering from unrequited love, and herself wrestling with questions about art and artists, class, obsession and romance — visits Richard at Bedlam and finds an unexpected kinship in his feverish mind and his haunting work. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Times; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} Masterfully slipping through time and memory, Mad Richard maps the artistic temperaments of Charlotte and Richard, weaving their divergent lives together with their shared fears and follies, dreams, and crushing illusions.

After murdering his father, the painter Richard Dadd is confined to Bedlam. Dr Hood is determined to reform Bedlam and has enlightened views about mental illness. In 1857 Dr Hood gives Dadd a spacious room to work in. Dadd visits 21st century London where he glimpses the mysterious Nina and his own painting in Tate Britain.

Includes a catalogue of his works.

The fantasy art of Charles Vess is acclaimed worldwide, his rich palette, striking compositions, and lavish detail second to none. Vess created memorable works for such best selling fantasy authors as Neil Gaiman, Susanna Clarke, Charles De Lint, and George R. R. Martin, as well as a who''s-who list of publishers and clients. His art is breathtakingly singular while recalling the golden age of illustration, when paint and brush were the vessels that carried readers to distant lands, bygone ages, and realms of the imagination. Featuring a forword by Susanna Clarke, author of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.