The artwork titled “The Witches’ Sabbath,” created by Salvator Rosa in 1654, is an oil painting on canvas belonging to the Baroque art movement and categorized as a genre painting. It is housed in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), located in Houston, Texas, United States. The painting between 1615-1660 vividly portrays a dark and macabre scene that exemplifies the dramatic style characteristic of the Baroque period.
In the artwork, a group of witches is depicted amidst a ritualistic and chaotic gathering, surrounded by eerie, skeletal figures and demonic entities. The central figure, seemingly in the midst of casting a spell, holds a torch, illuminating the ominous nocturnal setting. Other characters around the central figure are engaged in various sinister activities, contributing to the overall sense of malevolence and disorder. The composition is dramatically lit with sharp contrasts between light and shadow, enhancing the painting’s theatrical and unsettling atmosphere. The use of rich, dark colors further emphasizes the mysterious and foreboding mood of the scene.
