Who painted Three Witches?

Three Witches was painted by Daniel Maclise in 1825.

Where can I see Three Witches?

Three Witches is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Three Witches?

Three Witches is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Three Witches?

Museum-quality prints of Three Witches are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Three Witches

Daniel Maclise , 1825

Three Witches is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Daniel Maclise. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The composition is contained within a larger assemblage of 390 drawings displayed in a thirty‑frame pillar stand.

Daniel Maclise’s pen‑and‑ink drawing portrays the three witches from Shakespeare’s tragedy *Macbeth*. Executed with rapid, sketchy strokes, the image captures a storm‑laden atmosphere in which a cloaked figure dominates, staff in hand, while two smaller, concealed figures crouch beneath. The composition is contained within a larger assemblage of 390 drawings displayed in a thirty‑frame pillar stand.

Subject & Meaning

The work visualises the infamous trio of prophetic witches, embodying the play’s themes of fate and supernatural intrigue. Their shadowy forms and concealed faces heighten the sense of mystery, while the turbulent sky suggests the chaotic forces they unleash upon the narrative’s protagonists.

Technique & Style

Maclise employs brisk, scratchy lines and loose cross‑hatching to convey movement and tension. The absence of refined contours creates a raw, urgent quality, emphasizing the tempestuous setting. The drawing’s texture arises from overlapping strokes that suggest both the swirling heavens and the witches’ volatile presence.

History & Provenance

The piece forms part of a substantial collection of 390 sketches assembled in a pillar stand of thirty frames. Alongside works by T.S. Cooper, Sir Edwin Landseer, and G. Cattermole, the series includes portraits of literary and political figures such as Edward Bulwer‑Lytton and Benjamin Disraeli, reflecting a broader 19th‑century interest in cultural portraiture.

Context

Created during a period when artists frequently rendered literary subjects, the drawing aligns with Victorian fascination with Shakespearean drama and the gothic imagination. Its inclusion among contemporaneous sketches underscores a collaborative environment where artists contributed varied interpretations of notable characters and public personalities.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Daniel Maclise

Daniel Maclise (25 January 1806 – 25 April 1870) was an Irish history painter, literary and portrait painter, and illustrator, who worked for most of his life in London, England.