Priya Kapoor
The 2002 psychological thriller film Red Dragon, based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, features a painting that plays a crucial role in the story. The painting in question is The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun, a watercolour created by English poet and painter William Blake between 1805 and 1810. The painting is based on a passage from the Book of Revelation, depicting a menacing red dragon with seven heads and ten horns looming over a radiant woman, representing the Virgin Mary, about to give birth to humanity's hope and salvation. In the film, the painting becomes a central obsession for the antagonist, Francis Dolarhyde, who believes that his murders bring him closer to becoming the Dragon. This obsession ultimately leads him to consume the original painting at the Brooklyn Museum, where it is housed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Painting | The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun |
| Artist | William Blake |
| Year | 1803-1810 |
| Medium | Watercolour |
| Inspiration | Book of Revelation, Chapter 12: 1-4 |
| Subject | A great red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head |
| Symbolism | The dragon is associated with Satan; the woman represents the Virgin Mary, Israel, Jerusalem, and the church; the unborn child represents humanity's hope and salvation |
| Cultural Significance | Featured in the 2002 movie Red Dragon, based on the 1981 novel by Thomas Harris; tattooed on the back of the antagonist, Francis Dolarhyde, played by Ralph Fiennes |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's artist, William Blake
The English poet, painter, and printmaker William Blake lived from 28 November 1757 to 12 August 1827. He is considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual art of the Romantic Age. Although he was largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now highly regarded for his expressiveness and creativity, as well as the philosophical and mystical undercurrents within his work.
Blake's work was influenced by the Bible, which he revered, and the ideals and ambitions of the French and American Revolutions. He was hostile to the Church of England and almost all forms of organised religion. Blake's work is characterised as part of the Romantic movement and as "Pre-Romantic". He is also considered one of the great artistic polymaths, one of the finest poets in the English language, and one of Britain's most revolutionary visual artists.
Blake's work integrates writing and painting into a single creative process, combining image and text in single compositions through original techniques such as "illuminated printing". His spiritual vision was central to his creativity, informed by a complex, imaginative pantheon of his own making, populated by deities such as Urizen, Los, Enitharmion, and Orc. Grand allegorical narratives illustrated with Blake's own designs played out in this universe.
The Great Red Dragon paintings are a series of watercolour paintings by Blake, created between 1805 and 1810. They were commissioned by his patron Thomas Butts to illustrate books of the Bible. The paintings depict "The Great Red Dragon" in various scenes from the Book of Revelation. The original work is housed at the Brooklyn Museum and kept behind closed doors due to its sensitivity to light. The painting became a cultural icon after its appearance in the 2002 movie Red Dragon, based on Thomas Harris's 1981 novel of the same name.
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The painting's subject matter and inspiration
The painting that features in the 2002 movie Red Dragon is called The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed [with the] Sun. It is one of a series of over 100 watercolour paintings created by English poet and painter William Blake between 1805 and 1810. The series, known collectively as The Great Red Dragon paintings, illustrates scenes from the Bible.
The painting's subject matter is a passage from the Book of Revelation, which describes a vision of a woman, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head. A great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns looms over her, waiting to devour her unborn child. The woman is often interpreted as the Virgin Mary, Jerusalem, or the church, and the dragon is associated with Satan.
Blake's interpretation of this biblical scene is highly personal. The composition is based on a book illustration that he engraved after the Swiss artist Henry Fuseli in 1791. The painting is housed at the Brooklyn Museum and is usually kept behind closed doors due to its sensitivity to light.
In the movie Red Dragon, the painting is central to the character of serial killer Francis Dolarhyde, nicknamed "The Tooth Fairy". Dolarhyde is obsessed with the painting and believes that his murders will help him transform into the Red Dragon. He has a tattoo of the dragon across his back and, at one point in the film, attempts to break free from his delusions by eating the original painting.
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The antagonist's obsession with the painting
The antagonist of the 2002 film Red Dragon, Francis Dolarhyde, is obsessed with the painting The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun by William Blake. This obsession is driven by his alternate personality, "The Great Red Dragon", which compels him to kill. Dolarhyde believes that each murder he commits brings him closer to "becoming" the Dragon. This is reflected in the film, where he gets the painting tattooed on his back.
The painting itself is one of a series of over one hundred watercolour paintings created by Blake between 1805 and 1810. They were commissioned by his patron Thomas Butts to illustrate scenes from the Bible, specifically the Book of Revelation. In this particular painting, a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns looms over a radiant woman, the Virgin Mary, who represents Jerusalem, Israel, and the church. The dragon, associated with Satan, seeks to destroy her unborn child, humanity's hope and salvation.
Dolarhyde's obsession with the painting leads him to the Brooklyn Museum, where the original work is kept. In a pivotal scene in the film, he consumes the painting, literally eating it, in an attempt to complete his transformation into the Dragon. This act symbolises his desire to fully embrace his dark alter ego and the power it holds over him.
The inclusion of Blake's painting in the film and its connection to the antagonist highlights the intricate relationship between art, psychology, and violence. Dolarhyde's obsession with the Dragon and his attempts to become it through murder showcase the dark side of human nature and the power of art to inspire both beauty and destruction.
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The antagonist's tattoo of the painting
The 2002 film Red Dragon is based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Thomas Harris. The antagonist of the story is a serial killer named Francis Dolarhyde, who is also known by the nickname "The Tooth Fairy". Dolarhyde is driven by an obsession with the painting "The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun", a watercolour by the English poet and painter William Blake, created between 1805 and 1810.
Dolarhyde has the painting tattooed on his back, reflecting his belief that each murder he commits brings him closer to "becoming" the Red Dragon. The dragon is described as having "seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads", and it looms menacingly over a radiant woman whose unborn child—representing humanity's hope and salvation—the beast seeks to destroy. This interpretation of a passage from the Book of Revelation reflects Blake's unique artistic vision and his ability to create disturbing and melodramatic images.
The tattoo serves as a visual representation of Dolarhyde's psychological state and his descent into madness. It is a constant reminder of his alternate personality, the Great Red Dragon, which drives him to commit heinous acts of violence. The tattoo also adds a layer of complexity to the character, as it suggests that Dolarhyde is not only a killer but also someone who is struggling with his own inner demons and a troubled past.
As the story progresses, Dolarhyde's conflict between his growing feelings for a co-worker, Reba McClane, and his alter ego's demands that he kill her, becomes more intense. In a desperate attempt to break free from the Dragon's control, Dolarhyde goes to the Brooklyn Museum, where the original painting is kept, and consumes it. This act symbolises his attempt to regain control, to take the Dragon "hostage", and to complete his transformation into the mythical creature.
The tattoo of the painting on Dolarhyde's back is, therefore, a central element of the film's narrative. It not only adds depth to the antagonist's character but also serves as a visual motif that ties into the broader themes of obsession, transformation, and the struggle between good and evil that are prevalent in the movie "Red Dragon".
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The antagonist's consumption of the painting
The antagonist of the 2002 film Red Dragon, Francis Dolarhyde, is driven by a psychological obsession with the painting "The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun". The painting, created by English poet and painter William Blake between 1805 and 1810, depicts a passage from the biblical Book of Revelation. In the film, Dolarhyde, who has a massive tattoo of the dragon on his back, believes that each murder he commits brings him closer to "becoming" the dragon."
As the film progresses, Dolarhyde begins a relationship with his blind co-worker, Reba McClane. However, he struggles with conflicting feelings as his alter ego demands that he kill her. Desperate to break free from the dragon's control, Dolarhyde goes to the Brooklyn Museum, where the original painting is housed, and consumes it. This act symbolizes his attempt to complete his transformation into the Red Dragon and regain control over his alternate persona.
There are several interpretations of Dolarhyde's consumption of the painting. One suggests that by eating the painting, Dolarhyde believed he could release the Red Dragon's hold on him, especially as the dragon started urging him to kill Reba as well. Another interpretation is that by consuming the painting, Dolarhyde was internalizing the power of the dragon, taking it "hostage" within himself. This act of consumption can be understood as a symbolic representation of Dolarhyde's mental condition and the internal conflict between his two personas.
The consumption of the painting is a pivotal moment in the film, showcasing the complex psychology of the antagonist and his obsession with the Red Dragon. It highlights the character's disturbed state of mind and his desperate attempts to reconcile his conflicting desires and persona. Through this act, Dolarhyde attempts to assert dominance over the dragon that has controlled his actions, marking a turning point in his character's arc.
Overall, the antagonist's consumption of the painting in Red Dragon serves as a powerful visual representation of the character's psychological journey, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative.
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Frequently asked questions
The painting featured in the 2002 movie Red Dragon is The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun, a watercolour created by English poet and painter William Blake between 1805 and 1810.
In the movie, the character Francis Dolarhyde, also known as "The Tooth Fairy", is a serial killer with an alternate personality called "The Great Red Dragon" that he believes resides within him. Dolarhyde has a tattoo of the dragon on his back and believes that each murder he commits brings him closer to "becoming" the dragon.
In the movie, Dolarhyde eats the original painting in an attempt to break free from his alternate personality and regain control.
