Francisco de Goya (b. 1746, Fuentedetodos, Spain)

Witches Sabbath

1797-98, oil on canvas, 43 x 30 cm.

Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid, marked as public domain.

The painting conjures up a ghastly satanic initiation involving the half-man, half-goat deity Baphomet and a coven of witches. It is a satire about the superstition and prejudice common in 19th century Spain. Some of the women hold up dead and dying infants. Bats circle in the night sky and spectators watch from afar. Do you find this image scary?

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Goya’s intention was no doubt to ridicule superstition and express anger at its use by senior figures in the Church and government to frighten the poor into submission. 

The painting has also been interpreted as a protest against the Spanish Inquisition which had for 300 years held Spain in a grip of terror, burning at the stake thousands of innocent people accused of witchcraft and religious heresy.