Collection online
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Object type
Museum number
1895,0122.230
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Description
The Witches' Sabbath; four nude female figures sitting on the ground with a cauldron, which is emitting big plumes of smoke and traces of a potion with frogs. Around the figures, the ground is littered with bones, witchforks and other items associated with witchcraft. On the right, next to the barren tree with the monogram tablet, a cat is sitting with its back turned. In the night sky, another two witches, one barely visible through the smoke, the other one riding a goat and carrying a witchfork with another cauldron and animal bones. Yellow stain on the left witch. 1510 Colour woodcut printed from two blocks, tone block in grey
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Producer name
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School/style
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Date
- 1510
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Materials
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Technique
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Dimensions
- Height: 373 millimetres
- Width: 257 millimetres
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Inscriptions
Inscription Content
Signed "HBG" on a tablet hanging from the tree on the far right, and dated "1510" on the tree trunk itself.
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Curator's comments
BM has another colour woodcut of this design (1834,0712.73) and impression of outline block only (1852,1009.203). See Giulia Bartrum, 'German Renaissance Prints', exh. cat., BM, London 1995, no.55. See also Matthias Mende, 'Hans Baldung Grien. Das graphische Werk', Unterschneidheim 1978, no.16. Mende points out the links between the flying witch in Baldung's woodcut and Dürer's 'Witch riding backward on a goat' (BM 1868,0822.188).
Text from Bartrum 1995
Literature: Bartsch, 55; Hollstein, 235 II; Mende, 16; Marrow and Shestack, 18This is a fine impression and has survived in good condition. The subtle change in mood evoked by the different coloured tone block illustrates the particular suitability of this technique of printing to Baldung's choice of subject and expressive style.
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Bibliography
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Location
Not on display (German XVIc Mounted Roy)
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Exhibition history
1995 Jun-Oct, BM, 'German Renaissance Prints, 1490-1550', no.55
1996 Jun-Aug, Canterbury, Royal Mus and AG, G. Renaissance Prints
1996 Nov-Dec, Edinburgh, NG of Scotland, G. Renaissance Prints
1997 Jan-Mar, Cardiff, Nat Mus of Wales, G. Renaissance Prints
1997 Apr-May, Llandudno, Oriel Mostyn Gallery, G. Renaissance Prints
1997 Oct-Dec, Norwich, Sainsbury Centre, G. Renaissance Prints -
Subjects
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Acquisition name
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Acquisition date
1895
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Acquisition notes
Bartrum 1995 Sale, Christie's, 7 July 1884, lot 581, bought by Gutekunst for £16 10s
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Department
Prints & Drawings
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Registration number
1895,0122.230

The Witches' Sabbath; four nude female figures sitting on the ground with a cauldron, which is emitting big plumes of smoke and traces of a potion with frogs. Around the figures, the ground is littered with bones, witchforks and other items associated with witchcraft. On the right, next to the barren tree with the monogram tablet, a cat is sitting with its back turned. In the night sky, another two witches, one barely visible through the smoke, the other one riding a goat and carrying a witchfork with another cauldron and animal bones. Yellow stain on the left witch. 1510 Colour woodcut printed from two blocks, tone block in grey
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Object reference number: PPA58466
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