The Nights of Straparola 1894

"The Nights of Straparola" is an 1894 painting by Edward Robert Hughes, a British Pre-Raphaelite artist known for his evocative and often controversial depictions of historical and literary subjects. The painting depicts a scene from the Italian collection of tales, "The Nights of Straparola," which features a king who, after being transformed into a wild beast, is able to revert to his human form by removing his animal skin. Hughes's portrayal of the moment captures the tension between the king's human and animal nature, as well as the fear and fascination that would have surrounded such a story in the 19th century.