Italy / c. 1645–49
Scenes of Witchcraft: Evening
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Scenes of Witchcraft: Evening as painting (Italy · c. 1645–49).
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: At dusk, Rosa's hags gather around a cauldron. Above their incantations soars a conjured skeleton holding an hourglass symbolizing the brevity of life. In its left hand, the demonic creature holds a capital letter A from which extends a plumb line; as ancient signs of the moon and judgment, this strange combination of symbols embodies the nocturnal judgment the witches are doling out below. Though more rare in paint, the detailed portrayal of witches at their spells enjoyed a long literary tradition. The wax effigy alludes to classical literature by Virgil and Horace that described love magic. Poets in the 1500s and 1600s continued the tradit
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtScenes of Witchcraft: EveningOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.