Tannhäuser in the Venusberg by John Collier 1901

"Then I sank down, crushed and in despair,
my senses left me. When I awoke,
night had fallen on the empty square,
but from afar sounded joyful hymns of praise.
The sweet songs sickened me:
from the lying sounds of promise
which pierced my soul with icy chill,
horror drove me forth in wild flight.
It drove me here, where once I so enjoyed
bliss and pleasure on her warm breast!
To you, fair Venus, I return,
to the sweet darkness of your spell;
I will come down to your court,
where your charms now shall ever smile on me!"

-Richard Wagner, Tannhäuser and the Minnesingers' Contest at Wartburg

Tannhäuser in the Venusberg by John Collier 1901. Height: 243 cm (95.6 in); Width: 168 cm (66.1 in). Atkinson Art Gallery and Library.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tannh%C3%A4user_en_el_Venusberg,_por_John_Collier.jpg

 

Quote:

http://www.impresario.ch/libretto/libwagtan_e.htm