Who painted Macbeth and the three witches?

Macbeth and the three witches was painted by Cattermole in 1850.

Where can I see Macbeth and the three witches?

Macbeth and the three witches is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artwork

Macbeth and the three witches

Macbeth and the three witches is a drawing by Cattermole. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This 1850 charcoal drawing by John Cattermole captures a moment from Shakespeare’s tragedy, showing Macbeth confronting the three witches. Executed on both sides of the sheet, the front presents the central encounter while the reverse bears a faint, unfinished grouping of figures.

Subject & Meaning

The composition places the titular king before the coven, who are gathered around a smoking, flame‑tipped cauldron. Macbeth’s posture suggests contemplation, reflecting the play’s themes of ambition and foreboding as he listens to the witches’ prophecy.

Technique & Style

Cattermole employs a restrained palette of charcoal tones, emphasizing chiaroscuro through dense cross‑hatching and stippling. These methods generate texture and depth, reinforcing the scene’s somber, atmospheric quality.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑nineteenth century, the drawing entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of literary illustration and 19th‑century draftsmanship.

Context

The work reflects the Victorian fascination with Shakespearean drama and the supernatural, aligning with contemporary illustrated editions that sought to visualize key moments from the playwright’s works.

Artist & collection

Artist

Cattermole

Cattermole is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:Eva Cattermole (1849–1896), Italian writer and poet George Cattermole (1800–1868), British painter and illustrator Lee Cattermole, English footballer Paul…