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Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning, c. 1645-1649. Creator: Salvator Rosa (Italian, 1615-1673)
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Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning, c. 1645-1649. Creator: Salvator Rosa (Italian, 1615-1673)
Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning, c. 1645-1649. Rosas first scene depicts a young witch who plunges her knife into a writhing amphibian at dawn. The dark clouds of daybreak and anthropomorphic crags provide a gloomy atmosphere, while malevolent birds with piercing beaks hover around the central stabbing, focusing the viewers attention on the witchs vicious act. The only beautiful enchantress Rosa ever painted, her elegance and ability to transform men into animals evokes the goddess Circe. But Rosa wasnt interested in classical imagery; he inverted expectations by transforming Circe into an explicitly violent sorceress. Her calm expression makes the terrifying gesture of upraised human hands among the birds even more disturbing
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Media ID 19641385
© Heritage Art/Heritage Images
1615 1673 Salvator Rosa Salvator Rosa Italian
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This print captures the essence of Salvator Rosa's masterpiece, "Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning" created between 1645 and 1649. In this scene, Rosa portrays a young witch engaged in a sinister act at dawn. With dark clouds looming overhead and eerie anthropomorphic crags surrounding her, the atmosphere is filled with gloom and foreboding. The focal point of the image is the young witch plunging her knife into a writhing amphibian, while malevolent birds with piercing beaks hover around her. These birds draw our attention to her vicious act, intensifying its impact on the viewer. Despite being depicted as an enchantress capable of transforming men into animals like Circe from Greek mythology, Rosa deviates from classical imagery by portraying her as explicitly violent. What makes this painting even more unsettling is the calm expression on the witch's face amidst such brutality. The upraised human hands among the birds add an element of terror to this already disturbing scene. Salvator Rosa was known for his unconventional approach to art, and "Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning" exemplifies his ability to challenge expectations. This particular artwork stands out not only for its subject matter but also for its unique portrayal of a traditionally beautiful sorceress transformed into something far more menacing. Displayed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, this oil-on-canvas painting showcases Rosa's mastery in capturing both beauty and darkness within one composition. It serves as a testament to his artistic prowess during
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