Unlike Frederick Sandys' portrayals of sorceresses, such as his Medea (1868) or Morgan le Fay (1864), Waterhouse chose to make his witch's face intent and intriguing, as opposed to malevolent. Infobox Painting backcolorFBF5DF painting alignmentright image size250px title The Magic Circle artist John William Waterhouse year 1886 typeOil on. The witch wears a similar dress to Miranda and her face can also only be seen in profile. The Magic Circle is similar in composition to Waterhouse's later picture, Miranda (1916), also a woman associated with magic. Instead of billowing outwards or being affected by the wind, it remains in a straight line. The witch's power is emphasised by the determined face, by her exclusion of the ravens and frog - popular symbols representing magic - and by her command over the smoke pillar. Waterhouse paid careful attention to the angles employed in this work, balancing the circle the figure is drawing around herself by the use of a triangle - her straight arm, extended by the straight stick, held out at 45 degrees to her erect body. The surrounding landscape is hazy, as though it is not quite real, and the background figures are only discernible on close inspection, deliberately ensuring the witch is the only image of importance. these days, he’d be delighted you share his interest in the occult and magical women.In a style typical of Waterhouse, the main, female, character is a lone figure, placed centrally on the canvas. We’re sure if you conjured up the spirit of J.W. After a vote of 7-3, the Chantrey Bequest bought the painting for £650- roughly $110,000 today! These days The Magic Circle is a favorite of modern witches who store potions in mason jars and use bullet journals for their grimoires. The Magic Circle debuted at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy in 1886 where it was met with critical acclaim for its originality and beauty. The color palette and brush techniques used in the painting were inspired by naturalist painter Jules Bastien-Lepage who was known for his sentimental depiction of rural life.
THE MAGIC CIRCLE WATERHOUSE PAINTING FULL
Somehow, using murky browns and greys, Waterhouse managed to create a picture full of dynamic energy. Since Waterhouse chose dull colors in this particular painting, it’s likely the witch is actually a grey/neutral witch who practices neither white nor black magic. It’s easy to assume these creature are her familiars -animal guides who assist witches with their magic- but since they aren't allowed within the witch’s protective circle they’re probably not, which implies the witch isn’t evil. These animals are all symbols of evil heavily associated with witchcraft. Instead of a black cat, the witch is accompanied by a tiny frog and black birds, either crows or rooks (no, not like the chess piece). Back then it was common practice for spiritualists to perform seances and communicate with spirits. The Magic Circle is similar in composition to Waterhouses later picture, Miranda (1916), also a woman associated with magic. It looks like our witch is summoning spirits, noted through the abnormal brush patterns jutting out the column of smoke. The boline’s crescent shape associates the witch with Hecate, Greek goddess of the moon and witchcraft. Like any good witch, she’s got her tools- a wand to cast the circle and a Wiccan sickle called a boline to cut herbs. The magic circle in the ground is a protective barrier against bad hoodoo. This is one of the oldest mythical symbols, dating back to ancient Egypt, and represents the infinite cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The Magic Circle is a famous oil painting, originally by English artist John William Waterhouse in 1886, with the style of romanticism. This fashionable witch is also wearing what appears to be a snake eating its own tail, an ouroboros, around her neck.
THE MAGIC CIRCLE WATERHOUSE PAINTING SKIN
The woman’s skin tone and facial features suggest she’s of Middle-Eastern origin, but her hair is styled in Anglo-Saxon braids and her dress features Greek art. Waterhouse’s formal artistic training and the social environment of 19th century England exposed him to various cultures that influenced his love and portrayal of witches.Īt the time it was trendy to express interest in the exotic and the occult, both of which you can see here in The Magic Circle. The painting depicts a witch or sorceress drawing a fiery magic circle on the earth to create a ritual space. He often depicted witches, goddesses, and other magical women not as fearfully evil creatures but as powerful forces to be reckoned with. The Magic Circle is an oil painting in the Pre-Raphaelite style, created in 1886 by John William Waterhouse. Waterhouse loved to paint enchantingly beautiful women in nature via the Pre-Raphaelite style. J.W. Waterhouse had a thing for a women who could put him under a spell- literally.
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