Lewis (1805–1876) and Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836–1912), rather than on actual experience. His oeuvre also includes a number of Middle Eastern subjects, in which he drew on the work of contemporary artists such as J. More specifically, the notion of woman as enchantress is one that recurs in images such as Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses (1891, Oldham Art Gallery) and Hylas and the Nymphs (1896, Manchester City Art Gallery). Miracles, magic and the power of prophecy are common themes in Waterhouse's art. Unlike Frederick Sandys' portrayals of sorceresses, such as his 1864 Morgan le Fay and 1868 Medea, Waterhouse chose to make his witch's face intent and intriguing, as opposed to malevolent. Miranda wears a similar dress to the witch in The Magic Circle, and her face can also only be seen in profile. The Magic Circle is similar in composition to Waterhouse's later 1916 painting, Miranda - The Tempest, which also portrays a woman associated with magic. A live snake ouroboros loops around the woman's neck. Instead of billowing outwards or being affected by the wind, it remains in a straight line. The witch's power is emphasised by the determined face, by her exclusion of the ravens and frog – popular symbols representing magic – and by her command over the smoke pillar. Waterhouse paid careful attention to the angles employed in this work, balancing the circle the figure is drawing around herself by the use of a triangle – her straight arm, extended by the straight stick, held out at 25 degrees to her erect body. The surrounding landscape is hazy, as though it is not quite real, and the background figures are only discernible on close inspection, deliberately ensuring the witch is the only image of importance. In a style typical of Waterhouse, the main character is a lone, female figure, placed centrally on the canvas. The Magic Circle was on display at the National Gallery of Australia as part of the Love and Desire exhibition (December 2018 – April 2019). He initially sketched the composition in a sepia pen and ink version in 1880–1881. 1886 study for The Magic Circle, 61.5 cm (24.2 in) high and 41.2 cm (16.2 in) wide, also held by a private collector. The smaller 1886 version of The Magic Circle measures 88 cm (34.6 in) high and 60 cm (23.6 in) wide. The painting was extremely successful with the critics and public alike. The painting was well received at its exhibition, and was purchased for £650 the same year by the Tate Gallery, through the Chantrey Bequest. Eulalia, this was Waterhouse's third exhibit with a supernatural theme in as many years. Coming after Consulting the Oracle and St. The larger prime version of The Magic Circle was shown at the Royal Academy in 1886, the year after Waterhouse was elected an Associate member.
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