Italy / c. 1645–1649
Scenes of Witchcraft: Day
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Scenes of Witchcraft: Day as painting (Italy · c. 1645–1649).
The artist chose the painting's shape to reference the foundational role of the circle in practicing magic.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as oil on canvas and credits Salvator Rosa (Italian, 1615–1673).
The museum's collection notes: Rosa's scene at noon showcases several hoary hags that exemplify his treatment of witches. Clutching skulls, wielding brooms, and slicing lizards, the witches prepare to travel to the Sabbath, an orgy of witches. One witch flays the skin of a thrashing lizard to extract the innards needed to concoct magical unguents, while her companions brandish skulls. Goats were the common mode of transportation for witches, but Rosa substitutes an owl, a harbinger of evil. Although Rosa foregrounds the violent cruelty of witchcraft, situating the grotesque hags in the full light of day introduces a comic aspect to the scene. Rosa's use of comedy and the u
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The Cleveland Museum of ArtScenes of Witchcraft: DayOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.