Delve into the world of Witches and Wicked Bodies in this major new exhibition, on view at The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art until November 3, 2013.


Henry Fuseli, Three Weird Sisters from Macbeth, 1785, Mezzotint on paper 457 mm × 558 mm, © British Museum


Discover how witches and witchcraft have been depicted by artists over the past 500 years, including works by Albrecht Dürer, Francisco de Goya and William Blake, plus pieces by 20th century artists such as Paula Rego and Kiki Smith.


William Blake, The Whore of Babylon, 1809, Pen and black ink and water colours, 266 x 223 mm, © The Trustees of the British Museum

The Triple Hecate c 1795, William Blake, Polytype on paper 41.60 x 56.10 cm, © National Galleries of Scotland


Through 16th and 17th century prints and drawings, learn how the advent of the printing press allowed artists and writers to share ideas, myths and fears about witches from country to country.


John William Waterhouse, The Magic Circle, 1886, © Tate, London, Oil paint on canvas 1829 x 1270 mm


Including major works on loan from the British Museum, the National Gallery (London), Tate, the Victoria & Albert Museum, as well as works from the Galleries’ own collections, Witches and Wicked Bodies will be an investigation of extremes, exploring the highly exaggerated ways in which witches have been represented, from hideous hags to beautiful seductresses.


The Four Witches (Bartsch No. 75 (89), Dürer, Engraving on paper 19.00 x 13.10 cm, © National Galleries of Scotland

After Jacques de Gheyn II (1565-1629); engraved by Zacharias Dolendo (1561 – c. 1600), Invidia (Envy) 1596-7, Engraving 22.7 × 16.5cm, © Trustees of the British Museum, London