Belladonna In Green by Kelley Hensing

Title:	Belladonna In Green
Date Created:	2023
Copyright:	© Kelley Hensing
Genre:	Fantasy
Mediums:	Oils
Views:	144
Posted:	12/10/2023

Projects: Kelley loves creating paintings and drawings, participating in gallery shows and art conventions,(IX being a favorite), working on commissions, freelance illustration and many other interesting design projects.

This figure was inspired by some of the unusual practices of the Victorian era, the first being her vibrant green dress. It may seem surprising, but one of the green dyes popular during that time actually contained arsenic. Another of her elements are the lovely but toxic plants used back then, most notably the Belladonna flower. Also known as deadly nightshade, ladies would use it to enlarge their pupils which they felt made them more attractive. In addition, arsenic and other toxins readily available back then became a hidden method of utilizing poisons against their foes.