Magic: From Dürer to Warhol

From ancient rituals to sorcerers and mythical creatures, this collection brings together works inspired by the supernatural across thousands of years of art history.

This visually stunning volume traces the history of magic in art through an astonishing progression of paintings, sculptures, prints, and decorative arts, from prehistoric cave paintings and ancient Egyptian carvings to Japanese ghost scrolls, Renaissance masterpieces, Surrealism, and contemporary art. 

Canonical masterpieces by Botticelli, Bosch, Dürer, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Goya, Klee, Magritte, Chagall, Warhol, Louise Bourgeois, and Kiki Smith appear alongside Maya ritual imagery, Vodou ceremonies, and other unexpected discoveries that forge surprising connections across cultures and centuries. 

Witches’ sabbaths, enchanted forests, fortune tellers, fairy queens, magical transformations, and uncanny visions unfold across spectacular reproductions. Brief essays accompany each image, illuminating the folklore, symbolism, religious traditions, and cultural beliefs behind its creation.

• Provides an in-depth look at the history and cultural context of magic in art
• Explores humanity’s enduring fascination with magic across cultures and eras
• Short texts describe the key features and defining characteristics of each artwork
• Richly illustrated with more than 50 extraordinary and seminal works 
• A wonderful gift for anyone interested in magic, sorcery and the supernatural

This remarkable collection shows how artists across cultures and centuries have drawn on the supernatural as a source of mystery, wonder, fear, and inspiration.