Die schöne Melusine: II. Am Waldbrunnen

Art Historical Context

### Die schöne Melusine II. Am Waldbr Moritz von Schwind'sDie schöne Melus: II. Am Waldbrunnen* (1869) captures a enchanting moment from the medieval legend of Melusine, a mythical water nymph who marries a mortal knight but harbors a secret transformation. This second part, "At the Forest Fountain," the fateful encounter at a woodland spring, where Melusine's beauty and mystery unfold amid lush Romantic scenery. As a leading figure in Austrian Romanticism, Schwind infused his works with fairy-tale whimsy and folklore, drawing from German literary traditions like those of the Brothers Grimm, making this piece a vivid narrative illustration from a larger cycle. Rendered in watercolor (Aquarell) on cardboard—a technique Schwind mastered for its luminous transparency and fluid effects—this monumental drawing (78 x 133 cm) showcases his skillful layering of delicate washes to evoke dappled forest light and ethereal figures. Housed in Vienna's Belvedere Collection and classified as a Zeichnung (drawing), it highlights the 19th-century elevation of watercolor from sketch to independent artwork, bridging Romantic fantasy with precise draftsmanship. Schwind, a contemporary of Schubert and friend to Vienna's artistic elite, created this during his mature years, reflecting the era's nostalgia for medieval myths amid industrialization. For visitors, it's a portal to Romantic escapism, celebrating nature's magic and human longing in the Belvedere's storied halls.

About the Artist

Moritz von Schwind · 1804–1871

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