Circe - Theodor Verkruys

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Theodor Verkruys depicting the sorceress Circe surrounded by her transformed subjects, based on a design by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione.

This print by Theodor Verkruys depicts the mythological figure Circe, the sorceress from Homer's Odyssey. The composition is based on an original work by the Italian painter Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, with the drawing attributed to Francesco Perucci. Verkruys, a Dutch engraver active in the late seventeenth century, demonstrates technical precision in his handling of the copper plate, using varied line weights to define the textures of the animals, the fabric of Circe's robes, and the weathered stone of the bust.

Circe sits in a relaxed posture, holding a wand, surrounded by the men she has transformed into animals. A calf, a cat, and various birds populate the foreground, while a classical bust stands on a plinth to the left. The scene includes discarded armour and weapons, suggesting the defeat of those who arrived at her island. The background features a soft, atmospheric sky rendered with fine cross-hatching, which provides a sense of depth behind the figures. The print captures the theatricality common in Baroque art, focusing on the narrative tension between the enchantress and her transformed subjects.

Verkruys was known for his reproductive prints, which allowed the compositions of contemporary painters to reach a wider audience across Europe. This work reflects the interest in classical mythology that permeated the artistic circles of the period. The attention to detail in the animal forms and the drapery of the clothing indicates a high level of skill in the printmaking process. The print serves as a record of the collaborative nature of seventeenth-century art production, involving a painter, a draughtsman, and an engraver to bring a single image to completion.