Die Donaunixen prophezeien Hagen den unglücklichen Ausgang von Gunthers Zug

1800/1815

Henry Fuseli1741 Zürich – 1825 Putney Hill/London
We have 121 artworks by Henry Fuseli online.
We have 2511 paintings online.
On their war campaign against the Huns, the Nibelungs reach the Danube, which is overflowing with flood waters. In search of a crossing, the heavily armed Hagen surprises the wise 'Merwîb' while swimming. They escape him - 'si swebten sam die vogele vor im ûf der fluot'. But with their clothes as a pledge, he forces them to prophesy and they foretell the downfall of the Burgundians at Etzel's court. The Song of the Nibelungs (XXV, 1533-1548, esp. 1536, resp. 1577-1591) names only two demonic water creatures. Füssli first treated the scene in a large watercolour in which Hagen leads the horse on its halter (dat. 1802; Gert Schiff: Johann Heinrich Füssli 1741-1825, 2 vols. (Zurich et al. 1973; = Oeuvrekataloge Schweizer Künstler 1), no. 1392).
Also known as
The Nymphs of the Danube Warn Hagen of the Unhappy Outcome of Gunther’s Expedition to Krimhild and Etzel Les Sirènes du Danube prédisent à Hagen l’issue malheureuse de l’expédition de Gunter
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
image: 118 x 142 cm
Inventory number
1978/0010
Credit line
Kunsthaus Zürich, Donated by Dr. Martin Hürlimann to the City of Zurich, 1978