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Exceptionally unusual and rare oil on panel of a grotesque multi-headed beast

Reference No.: 4

Date: 1605

Category: Curiosities and Natural History

Location of Origin: Europe / England

Price: 170000

Medium/Materials: Oil on Panel

Dimensions: Panel - 15in (w) x 19in (h). Frame - 23in (w) x 26in (h)

Description: This painting, done circa 1605 by an unknown German artist, represents eleven witches burned in Germany and subsequently re-incarnated as a multi-headed beast. The beast, which is defecating frogs, scorpions, and spiders, can be seen clutching snakes and wearing a Medusa pendant around its multiple necks.

Provenance: Private Parisian collection

Private London collection

Additional Information: The present example follows in the medieval tradition of paintings representing Hell and Judgment and are conceptually similar to the work of Hieronymous Bosch. Paintings of this type are extremely rare and vary seldom come on the open market, as most are preserved in museums such as:

Musees Nationaux des Beaux-Arts Brussels

Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

Akademie der Bildenden Kunste Vienna

Museum voor Shone Kunsten Gent

Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisbon Portugal

Prado Madrid

This painting was executed in the first quarter of the 17th century around the time of the 'Bosch-revivalists' which were painters who strove to emulate and adapt the work of Hieronymous Bosch (1450-1516) to modern tastes to cater to an increasing demand of this type. Some of these artists include:

Jacob Isaaczs. van Swanenburg (1571-1638)

Pieter Huys (1519-1584)

Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568 - 1625)

However this painting has also been compared with the works of:

Dieric Bouts The Elder (1415-1475)

Domenico Ghirlandaio (1448-1494)