# Manfred and the Alpine Witch

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/martin-john-rc051c1cf619a7c/manfred-and-the-alpine-witch-r9c7a76ef4db90b>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [MARTIN, John](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/martin-john-rc051c1cf619a7c>)
- Date: 1801-1850
- Technique: Watercolour, 388 x 558 mm

## Commentary

In this painting Martin turned to a literary theme: the poem by Lord Byron in which Manfred is condemned to eternal life without sleep. He calls upon the witch to find peace, but she demands his soul, and so he dismisses her. The drama of the contents is projected onto the natural forms, in a technique that would become a favourite with the Romantic artists as a means of expressing emotion. The practice would continue for decades.

## Related artworks

- [Great Day of His Wrath](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/martin-john-rc051c1cf619a7c/great-day-of-his-wrath-r7c2c997749d9d8>)
- [Pandemonium](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/martin-john-rc051c1cf619a7c/pandemonium-rb48320da74093c>)
- [The Bard](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/martin-john-rc051c1cf619a7c/the-bard-r4590001be5b97f>)
- [The City of God and the Waters of Life](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/martin-john-rc051c1cf619a7c/the-city-of-god-and-the-waters-of-life-r69a41fe8783fe0>)
- [The Eve of the Deluge](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/martin-john-rc051c1cf619a7c/the-eve-of-the-deluge-r2231974c3beab1>)
- [The Evening of the Deluge](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/martin-john-rc051c1cf619a7c/the-evening-of-the-deluge-r6eaaffa12e66de>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)