An Incantation Print, John Dixon after John Hamilton Mortimer, 1773 – Witchcraft Illustration, Occult Poster, Magic Ritual Art, Esoteric Home Decor #321

This An Incantation Print is a reproduction of John Dixon’s mezzotint after John Hamilton Mortimer’s haunting 1773 composition. The scene captures a dramatic moment of dark ritual: a gaunt, spectral witch raises a wand over a steaming cauldron, invoking unseen forces, while a kneeling figure recoils, caught between awe and terror. Around them lie grim symbols of death and sorcery — a human skeleton, anatomical drawings, tomes of forbidden knowledge, and bats hanging like omens from the cave’s ceiling.

A Vision of 18th-Century Occult Fascination

Mortimer’s artwork is a powerful example of the 18th-century revival of interest in the supernatural. The image embodies the Romantic fascination with witches, necromancy, and the spectral world, blending the drama of history painting with the Gothic taste for darkness. Dixon’s mezzotint brings this vision to life with velvety blacks and glowing highlights, giving the entire composition a sense of eerie depth and solemn grandeur.

Available as a fine art print on antiqued paper for a moody, vintage feel, or as a canvas reproduction for an imposing gallery presence. Delivered unframed, allowing you to pair it with a frame that matches your gothic, esoteric, or occult-themed space.

Symbolism and Esoteric Meaning

• The Witch – Embodiment of arcane knowledge, the liminal figure who mediates between life and death.

• The Wand and Cauldron – Instruments of transformation, invocation, and magical power.

• The Skeleton and Anatomical Drawing – Symbols of mortality, knowledge of the body, and forbidden science.

• The Book of Magic – The written word as a key to summoning unseen forces.

• The Kneeling Figure – Represents the human response to the supernatural: fear, reverence, and submission.

• The Bats – Messengers of the night, harbingers of the unseen world.

Historical and Cultural Context

John Hamilton Mortimer (1740–1779) was a British painter celebrated for his dramatic history paintings and fascination with macabre and supernatural themes. His works anticipated the Gothic movement, drawing on Shakespearean tragedy, Milton’s Paradise Lost, and the occult imagery of Renaissance and Baroque masters. John Dixon’s mezzotint of Mortimer’s painting brought this powerful image to a wider audience, turning the witch’s ritual into a collectible object for connoisseurs of the strange and sublime.

This image represents the Enlightenment-era tension between rationalism and the lingering allure of mysticism, giving modern viewers a glimpse into how the occult was both feared and romanticized in the 18th century.

Why Choose This Print?

• Faithful reproduction of a rare 1773 mezzotint

• Captures a pivotal image of European witchcraft iconography

• Available on antiqued paper or gallery canvas

• Unframed – perfect for custom presentation

• Ideal for lovers of witchcraft, ritual magic, and Gothic art

• Adds an atmospheric, mysterious presence to any study, library, or ritual space

Perfect For

• Collectors of witchcraft and occult art

• Students of esotericism, folklore, and history of magic

• Enthusiasts of 18th-century art and Romantic imagination

• Decorators of Gothic, dark-academic, or mystical interiors

• Unique esoteric gifts for lovers of arcane history

More Than Just a Witchcraft Print

This An Incantation Print (#321) is more than wall décor — it is a dramatic portal into the 18th-century imagination, where reason met ritual, and the witch’s cave became a stage for contemplating humanity’s deepest fears and desires.

👉 Order your An Incantation Print today and invite the spectral world of Mortimer and Dixon into your home — a perfect centerpiece for occult libraries, Gothic salons, or spaces dedicated to esoteric reflection.

Canvas vs. Hand-Made Paper — Print Comparison Guide