Cornelis Saftleven. A Witches' Sabbath. 1640–1660. Holland. Oil on panel An old woman riding a goat and brandishing a broomstick dominates this picture, which is an outstanding example of Cornelis Saftleven’s work in a traditional Netherlandish genre scenes of hellfire and witchcraft. Pioneered by Hieronymous Bosch and given new life by Jan Brueghel and Jacques de Gheyn II a century later, such ghoulish subjects were aimed at an audience of sophisticated collectors. Paintings and drawings in this genre combine precise scientific observation—as here in the moth wings of the howling figure on th
Cornelis Saftleven. A Witches' Sabbath. 1640–1660. Holland. Oil on panel An old woman riding a goat and brandishing a broomstick dominates this picture, which is an outstanding example of Cornelis Saftleven’s work in a traditional Netherlandish genre scenes of hellfire and witchcraft. Pioneered by Hieronymous Bosch and given new life by Jan Brueghel and Jacques de Gheyn II a century later, such ghoulish subjects were aimed at an audience of sophisticated collectors. Paintings and drawings in this genre combine precise scientific observation—as here in the moth wings of the howling figure on the right—with a sense of powerful, uncontrolled natural forces.
Size: 3000px × 2048px
Photo credit: © WBC ART / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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