List of paintings by John William Waterhouse.When the picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1886 the critic for the Magazine of Art wrote 'Mr Waterhouse, in The Magic Circle, is still at his best - original in conception and pictorial in his results' (quoted in Hobson, p.37) The meaning of the picture is unclear, but its mystery and exoticism struck a chord with contemporary observers.
But within its confines are flowers and the woman herself, objects of beauty. Outside the circle the landscape is bare and barren a group of rooks or ravens and a frog - all symbols of evil and associated with witchcraft - are excluded. With the wand in her right hand she draws a protective magic circle round her. In her left hand she holds a crescent-shaped sickle, linking her with the moon and Hecate. Her dress and general appearance is highly eclectic, and is derived from several sources: she has the swarthy complexion of a woman of middle-eastern origin her hairstyle is like that of an early Anglo-Saxon her dress is decorated with Persian or Greek warriors. The woman in this picture appears to be a witch or priestess, endowed with magic powers, possibly the power of prophecy. This is one of Waterhouse's earlier works, and reflects his fascination with the exotic. His oeuvre also includes a number of middle-eastern subjects, in which he drew on the work of contemporary artists such as J.F Lewis (1805-76) and Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912), rather than on actual experience. More specifically, the notion of woman as enchantress is one that recurs in images such as Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysees (1891, Oldham Art Gallery) and Hylas and the Nymphs (1896, Manchester City Art Gallery). Miracles, magic and the power of prophecy are common themes in Waterhouse's art. Unlike Frederick Sandys' portrayals of sorceresses, such as his Medea (1868) or Morgan le Fay (1864), Waterhouse chose to make his witch's face intent and intriguing, as opposed to malevolent. The witch wears a similar dress to Miranda and her face can also only be seen in profile. The Magic Circle is similar in composition to Waterhouse's later picture, Miranda (1916), also a woman associated with magic. A live snake ouroboros loops around the woman's neck. Instead of billowing outwards or being affected by the wind, it remains in a straight line. The witch's power is emphasised by the determined face, by her exclusion of the ravens and frog - popular symbols representing magic - and by her command over the smoke pillar. Waterhouse paid careful attention to the angles employed in this work, balancing the circle the figure is drawing around herself by the use of a triangle - her straight arm, extended by the straight stick, held out at 25 degrees to her erect body. The surrounding landscape is hazy, as though it is not quite real, and the background figures are only discernible on close inspection, deliberately ensuring the witch is the only image of importance. Retrieved October 21 2020.In a style typical of Waterhouse, the main character is a lone, female figure, placed centrally on the canvas.
When the picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1886 the critic for the Magazine of Art wrote "Mr Waterhouse, in The Magic Circle, is still at his best – original in conception and pictorial in his results" "John William Waterhouse The Magic Circle 1886". Outside the circle the landscape is bare and barren a group of rooks or ravens and a frog – all symbols of evil and associated with witchcraft – are excluded.
If you observe the smoke coming out of the caldron, one can ALMOST make out a figure (or figures). The witches in my circle need me not to explain any in this painting., if anything they may teach me a thing or two about the symbolism behind those animals, I am sure, but for those who are new to this, the painting shows a witch in the middle of act of complete drawing a circle. Arts Eclectic - "Magic Circle", oil painting by John William Waterhouse, in 1886.
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