Artwork
Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning
Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Salvator Rosa. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Salvator Rosa created Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning in 1640 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. This work, currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, exemplifies the artist's practice during his Italian period. The painting is classified as an oil-on-canvas work, adhering to the standard materials and techniques of 17th-century Italian painting traditions.
History & Provenance
It was created in Italy in 1640 and has not been recorded in any major exhibition history according to the available documentation.
Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning is an oil painting on canvas created in 1640 by Salvator Rosa in Italy. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art collection and remains part of its holdings. The work is cataloged in the museum's collection with the identifier 1977.37.1, confirming its provenance from inception through acquisition.
The painting is housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is accessioned under inventory number 1977.37.1. It was created in Italy in 1640 and has not been recorded in any major exhibition history according to the available documentation.
Overview
Created in 1640, Scenes of Witchcraft: Morning is an oil painting by the Italian Baroque artist Salvator Rosa. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies Rosa’s penchant for dramatic, untamed scenery combined with narrative content.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman clad in a white blouse and a yellow skirt, brandishing a sword as she confronts a swarm of animals, birds, frogs, and a coiled snake, that surge from the surrounding darkness. The tableau suggests a struggle between a human figure and hostile natural forces, echoing themes of witchcraft and supernatural conflict.
Context
The painting aligns with early Italian Baroque trends that favored dramatic narratives and dramatic lighting. Rosa’s oeuvre often juxtaposed human agency with the wildness of nature, and this work reflects his interest in mythic or occult subjects, a motif that set him apart from many contemporaries focused on religious or classical themes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Salvator Rosa (1615 – 15 March 1673) is best known today as an Italian Baroque painter, whose romanticised landscapes and history paintings, often set in dark and untamed nature, exerted considerable influence from the 17th century into…
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