“Manfred and the Witch of the Alps”
Now for something sublime…
This intense and rich watercolor on paper painting is by the English Romantic artist, John Martin, from 1837. It is titled “Manfred and the Witch of the Alps”.
This is Martin’s depiction of a scene from Lord Byron’s Romantic ghost story poem, Manfred, written between 1816 and 1817. This poem and all of Byron’s writings were very popular at the time. As such, most viewers who saw this at its original exhibition would know the story behind this piece. This painting was originally shown in 1838 with its companion piece, “Manfred on the Jungfrau”, at the Society of British Artists. Martin had never been to the Alps, so his depiction of the scenery is fantastical.
Byron’s poem tells the story of Manfred the sorcerer’s suffering and death. In the story, Manfred attempts suicide after suffering through a ‘maddening guilt’ after some unspoken sin. After the suicide attempt fails, Manfred seeks assistance from the Witch of the Alps to whom he reveals his sin, his love for his sister, Astarte. Many believe this poem to be semi-autobiographical, as there were rumors that Byron and his half-sister had fallen in love, but that is another story…
The Witch, who you can see in the painting arising under the rainbow, agrees to help Manfred achieve peace in return for his soul, which you can see as the apparition to his right. In the story, Manfred ultimately declines the offer, saves his soul, but ultimately loses his life.
Martin painted this piece during a depressed period in his life. He was in debt, his nephew had committed suicide, and he wrote a friend that he was a “ruined, crushed man … there are no more bright days for me”. Thankfully, things would improve for him in the next few years.
“Manfred and the Witch of the Alps” is currently on display at the Whitworth Art Gallery at the University of Manchester in England.
For more on John Martin, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
