Mythological Sorceress: 10 Stunning Depictions of Circe in Art

1. John William Waterhouse, Circe Invidiosa

The Pre-Raphaelites were captivated by Circe, with John William Waterhouse being one of the most prominent artists to depict her. Throughout his career, he created several striking portrayals of the witch. One of his most famous paintings, Circe Invidiosa, shows a jealous Circe casting a malicious spell. This piece is inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, which recounts the story before Homer’s Odyssey.

In the myth, the god Glaucus falls in love with the nymph Scylla and seeks Circe’s help to win her heart. However, Circe falls in love with him instead, and Glaucus rejects her. Enraged, Circe poisons the waters where Scylla bathes, transforming her into the terrifying six-headed monster seen in the Odyssey. In the painting, Circe’s gaze is malicious yet steady as she pours the poison into the water. An interesting detail is that she is shown riding a giant catfish, though some scholars believe it may actually be Scylla in the process of transformation.

2. Angelica Kauffmann, Circe Enticing Ulysses

This painting depicts Circe as a counselor, aligning with Madeline Miller’s feminist retelling of Circe. While Circe remains attractive, she is likely offering Ulysses (the Roman name for Odysseus) advice on his next steps. Her guidance proves essential for the hero. For instance, she advises him to journey to the Underworld and consult the prophet Tiresias. Additionally, she teaches him how to safely navigate past Scylla and Charybdis. Her witchy nature subtly appears in the wand she holds in her left hand.

3. Wright Barker, Circe

One of the most captivating depictions of Circe in art comes from this painting by Wright Barker. In this work, he portrays her with a commanding and majestic presence. Circe serves as a gracious hostess, inviting viewers into her house. Tame wild animals surround her, while she holds a lyre in her left hand, symbolizing her creative essence. Though her attire and the house’s design carry traces of ancient Greek influence, the overall scene feels more exotic and oriental. An intriguing detail is the scattered poppies on the steps. At first glance, they resemble splashes of blood, enhancing her mysterious, witch-like character.

4. John Collier, Circe

This painting presents an elegant depiction of Circe, but it portrays her as an object of desire through the male gaze. Instead of lions, as mentioned in the Odyssey, tigers surround her, adding an exotic, oriental touch to the scene. While we are accustomed to dynamic depictions of Circe, this artwork shows her as a passive beauty, rather than an active force controlling her own fate.

5. Louis Chalon, Circe

According to the myth, Circe is the daughter of the sun god Helios. In this painting, Louis Chalon depicts her with a massive sun behind her. The setting is distant, framed by a dark portal, where her indolent victims—filthy pigs—scuff and wallow in the shadows. Meanwhile, Circe basks in the glory of her royal sun heritage, surrounded by oriental symbols of magic and power. Her throne incorporates Egyptian elements, and the entire scene blends colonialist influences with symbols from various civilizations.

This painting resonates with the Odyssey, where Homer places Circe’s island in the east. In fact, some scholars suggest that her origins may be closer to Anatolian or Sumerian traditions than Greek. Additionally, lily pads float on shimmering water in front of her, recalling her maternal lineage—her mother, Perse, is an Oceanid nymph.

6. Dosso Dossi, Circe and Her Lovers in a Landscape

Dosso Dossi’s painting draws inspiration from myths that depict Circe as perpetually unlucky in love, always falling for a man who rejects her, only for her to seek revenge. In another story from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Circe falls for the hero Picus. When he scorns her, she transforms him into a woodpecker. The title of this painting suggests that all the animals surrounding Circe are former lovers, creatures she has captured and placed in her personal menagerie.

7. Charles Hermans, Circe the Temptress

This is one of the most unique depictions of Circe, blending the character with the opulence and decadence of the late 19th century, or fin de siècle. Circe wears a vibrant red gown, and her eyes are dark and intense. There are no allegories of wild animals or references to magic; instead, the focus is on the piggish behavior of her drugged victim.

8. Susan Seddon Boulet, Untitled (Circe)

Boulet was a contemporary artist famous for her rainbow-hued fantasy figures and animals. She used mostly French oil pastels, which she layered to create dream-like characters and fairytale paintings. Boulet drew inspiration from mythology, poetry, Jungian psychology, and spiritual traditions worldwide. Thus, Circe was a fitting subject for her, as she frequently painted goddesses and mystical women. In this work, the witch emerges from an ethereal backdrop of purples, greens, and blues, with her bright golden skin symbolizing her sun heritage.

9. Boris Vallejo, Untitled (Circe)

Vallejo is a Peruvian artist, famous for his fantasy and erotica paintings and illustrations. His visually striking work covers many science fiction and fantasy books. This particular illustration is a contemporary take on Circe. She is muscular, and voluptuous, with a strong, battle-ready body, showcasing her array of beastly powers.

10. Alan Lee, Circe, The Bewitching Queen of Aeaea

Alan Lee is another celebrated book illustrator and movie conceptual designer. His most popular illustrations are for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. He primarily uses watercolors, which give his illustrations a soft, dreamlike quality. In this particular piece, from the series The Wanderings of Odysseus as told by Rosemary Sutcliffe, Circe is portrayed as almost elfin. This appearance recalls the intricate, airy jewelry worn by elves in Lothlórien from The Lord of the Rings. Lee remains faithful to the original story, surrounding Circe with pigs—her transformed victims.