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The Magic Circle
Original price was: $518.00.$299.00Current price is: $299.00.
Artist: John William Waterhouse
A sorceress draws a ritual circle through the earth as ravens gather beyond it. Order The Magic Circle by John William Waterhouse as a hand-painted oil reproduction on canvas.
Description
Description
A dark-haired sorceress stands beside a smoking fire, drawing a circle through the earth while ravens watch from beyond its boundary. This The Magic Circle reproduction brings John William Waterhouse’s mysterious 1886 scene to canvas, preserving the commanding figure, ritual objects, and strange evening light that make the painting so compelling. It is an artwork that rewards a second look: the longer you stay with it, the more symbols emerge from the smoke and rocky landscape.
About The Magic Circle Reproduction
Waterhouse exhibited The Magic Circle at the Royal Academy in 1886, shortly after becoming an Associate of the Academy. The painting was acquired for Britain through the Chantrey Bequest that same year and is now in the Tate collection. Its subject continued Waterhouse’s early interest in supernatural women, while anticipating the enchantresses, mythological heroines, and psychologically charged figures that would become central to his later work.
The sorceress occupies the centre of the composition with complete authority. Her body and outstretched wand create a strong triangular structure above the circular boundary at her feet. Around her, ravens, a skull, poppies, gathered herbs, a curved ritual knife, and the snake at her neck suggest magic without explaining the rite. Figures near a distant cave remain outside the action, making the woman appear both isolated and entirely in command of the space she has created.
Waterhouse separates the scene through colour and paint handling. Orange, violet, and green strokes animate the hot fire, while cooler blue and yellow touches define the circle. The sorceress is modeled with greater weight and clarity; the grey-brown cliffs and ground are painted more thinly and freely, allowing the setting to dissolve around her. Smoke, fabric, bare earth, feathers, and skin each receive a different surface, producing atmosphere without sacrificing the figure’s physical presence.
The hand-painted reproduction
Each ByMuseum reproduction is painted to order in oil on canvas by a trained artist, not printed or mechanically transferred. The painter studies Waterhouse’s composition, muted earth palette, contrasting firelight, and changes in texture before rebuilding the scene by hand. Particular attention is given to the sorceress’s face and dress, the curling smoke, the cold edge of the circle, and the ravens receding into the landscape. The result is a canvas with real brushwork, tonal depth, and the material presence needed for this dramatic Victorian painting.
- Hand-painted oil on canvas, not a printed reproduction
- Available in multiple sizes to suit your wall
- Gallery-ready presentation, framed or gallery wrapped
- Certificate of authenticity included with every order
- Painted to order in 2 to 3 weeks, then delivered in 5 to 7 days
Artwork guide
The story behind The Magic Circle
Explore the painting’s history, composition and meaning in the ByMuseum art guide.
Read the history and meaning of The Magic CirclePRODUCT INFORMATION
Each ByMuseum artwork is a hand-painted oil painting reproduction created by trained artists on high-quality cotton canvas. Every piece is reviewed, finished, and packed according to the framing option you select.
Empty walls flatten a room. A classical artwork restores structure and visual hierarchy. One painting defines the space, anchors furniture, and establishes identity.
Delivery in 3 to 4 weeks
Worldwide shipping included. Each painting is produced to order and safely packed for international transport.
100% secure payment
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Authentic hand-painted reproduction
Real brushwork, layered oil paint, and durable pigments on museum-quality canvas.
90-day money-back guarantee
If the result does not meet expectations, return it for a full refund.
Unframed — Rolled in Tube
Your artwork is painted on premium cotton canvas, then shipped safely rolled in a rigid tube with extra blank canvas border — ready for stretching or framing locally.
Framed — Ready to Hang
Select a handcrafted frame and we’ll deliver your painting fully assembled, protected, and ready to hang.
For safe shipping, framing is available up to a maximum size. Larger sizes will automatically disable the frame option.
Stretched Canvas
Choose “Stretched” to receive your canvas mounted on wooden stretcher bars — perfect if you’ll frame it later or display it as-is.
Gallery Wrap
Gallery Wrap is a deeper, 1.5" style stretcher. The canvas wraps around the sides and is stapled on the back for a clean, modern, frameless look.
Insured Express Delivery
We ship with UPS, FedEx, or DHL straight to your door. You’ll receive a tracking number as soon as your order leaves our studio. Typical delivery is 5 to 7 days after dispatch; large, framed, or stretched pieces may take longer depending on the safest shipping route.
Unframed canvases are protected with a film, carefully rolled, and secured inside a rigid shipping tube.
Stretched, Gallery Wrapped, and Framed paintings are wrapped, cushioned with foam protection, and boxed for safe transit.
