Scene from Macbeth, Act IV., Scene I.

1786

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism 18th Century Allegory Aeneas

Dominant colour

Scene from Macbeth, Act IV., Scene I. is a 1786 by Robert Thew, a Romanticism work, depicting Aeneas, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Robert Thew
When & what style?: 1786 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This print shows a chaotic, dark scene with ghostly figures and a woman clutching two small children. A man in armor stands over her, holding a bloody sword, while skeletal hands and shadowy creatures loom around. The sky is stormy, and the whole scene feels tense and eerie. The title hints this is from Shakespeare’s *Macbeth*—likely the "witches’ scene" where the three weird sisters appear. The dramatic lighting and swirling shapes make it feel like a nightmare. Look up chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and dark for dramatic effect.

The story of this work

Overview

A dark cave is depicted, with a cauldron boiling at its center, surrounded by three witches, Macbeth, Hecate, and others, based on Sir Joshua Reynolds' work. This scene corresponds to Act IV, Scene I of Shakespeare's *Macbeth*. The image is derived from John Boydell's *Shakespeare* series, either the illustrated edition or the print folio, begun around 1786. The medium is a print on paper.

Read the full account in the museum source.