Henry Fuseli
Study for the three witches in Macbeth
Artwork Detail
In 'Aphorisms on Art' Fuseli responded to traditional art theory which insisted that to be effective a work which found its source in literature must refer to a specific moment… 'The middle moment, the moment of suspense, the crisis…big with the past and pregnant with the future...' This turning point in a narrative had to be easily identified by the viewing public. Auckland's oil sketch epitomises this moment for Macbeth; the death's head moth in the background reinforces the witches' message and prefigures the tragedy that is to unfold. (Monsters and Maidens, 2004)
- Title
- Study for the three witches in Macbeth
- Artist/creator
- Production date
- circa 1783
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 420 x 537 mm
- Credit line
- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased with funds from the M A Serra Trust, 1980
- Accession no
- 1980/8
- Copyright
- No known copyright restrictions
- Department
- International Art
- Display status
- Not on display
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