On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P07748
- Author
- Goya y Lucientes, Francisco de (Spanish)
- Title
- The Witches' Flight
- Chronology
- 1798
- Technique
- Óleo
- Support
- Lienzo
- Measures
- 43,5 cm x 30,5 cm
- School
- Española
- Theme
- Género y sociedad
- On display
- No
- Procedence
- Duque de Osuna, palacete de la Alameda, Madrid, 1798. Venta de los bienes de Osuna, Madrid, 1896, nº 83. Ramón Ibarra, Madrid. Colección Ibarra, Bilbao. Colección Luis Arana, Bilbao. Jaime Ortiz Patiño, Sotogrande, Huelva, 1985-1998. Adquirido por el Estado con destino en el Museo del Prado en 1999.
Three bare-chested characters wearing dunce caps hold a fourth, nude character in the air while another lies on the floor, covering his ears, A sixth figure flees, his head covered with a white cloth. With his hand, he makes the gesture intended to protect him from the evil eye. At the right of the scene, a donkey stands out against the neutral background.
This was one of six canvases Goya sold to the Duke and Duchess of Osuna in 1798, as decoration for their country house in La Alameda. They are linked to the etchings from his Caprichos series, in which he presented scenes of witches and witchcraft similar to this one.
This painting was acquired by the Prado Museum in 1999 with funds from the Villaescusa legacy.
















