Richard Dadd

Richard Dadd was a popular painter in the mid 1800’s. He was invited by Sir Thomas Philips, the major of Newport, to accompany him on a international voyage to act as draftsman. During a boat trip along the Nile, Dadd’s personality drastically changed and he became erratic and violent, claiming to be possessed by the god Osiris. He eventually went on to commit two murders and spent the rest of his life in an insane asylum, where he produced many intricate, highly detailed paintings.