Originally published on Art UK

'Love is merely a madness' – William Shakespeare, As You Like It

Throughout history, philosophers, writers and psychologists have viewed love as a malady – a kind of mania that can drive us to dizzying heights of euphoria, to the depths of despair, or even utter madness.

Whether or not you agree with this theory, I’m sure many of us can agree that Valentine's Day can be a rather nauseating social event. Red roses, heart-shaped chocolates, stuffed toys. It’s all one big cliché isn’t it? You'd have to be mad to buy that stuff – oh wait.

We're going to celebrate this annual event in another way, by considering how artists have depicted delusional lovesickness. ... See More