Artwork
Witchcraft (Allegory of Hercules)
Witchcraft (Allegory of Hercules) is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Dosso Dossi. It dates from 1535 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
This oil on canvas painting, titled Witchcraft or Allegory of Hercules, was created around 1535 by Dosso Dossi, an Italian Renaissance artist.
Subject & Meaning
The painting's subject is open to interpretation, with alternative titles including Bambocciata or Stregoneria, and its meaning remains uncertain. It is believed to be a satirical caricature, potentially featuring portraits of jesters associated with the dukes of Ferrara.
History & Provenance
The painting was acquired in Siena by Giannotto Cennini for Cardinal Leopoldo de' Medici in 1665. The cardinal's inventory described it as a satirical work commissioned by Ercole II d'Este, who was named after Hercules, thus influencing the painting's title.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni di Niccolò de Luteri, better known as Dosso Dossi (c. 1489–1542) was an Italian Renaissance painter who belonged to the School of Ferrara, painting in a style mainly influenced by Venetian painting, in…
