Henry Fuseli

Study for the three witches in Macbeth

Study for the three witches in Macbeth by Henry Fuseli

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
Henry Fuseli
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
On display

To find out which artworks are available for print requests and reproduction please enquire here. This service only applies to select artworks in the Gallery's collection.