Buzz
When we think of artwork in galleries, we often picture serene landscapes and dignified portraits. However, art can also be confronting in both the subjects it explores and the ways it challenges our perceptions. At times, an artist produces a piece so disturbing that it goes from mildly unsettling to truly frightening. While these works may not be ideal for your bedroom wall, they are undeniably worth a closer look. Here are ten of the most terrifying masterpieces created by legendary artists.
10. The Great Red Dragon and the Beast of the Sea William Blake
William Blake is celebrated today for his engravings and romantic poetry, but during his lifetime, his fame was almost nonexistent. His engravings and illustrations are now iconic in the romantic style, emerging more from his visionary imagination than from direct observation of nature. For this list, it is Blake’s watercolor series of the great red dragon from the Book of Revelation that earns him a spot. In these vivid works, the terrifying red dragon, a symbol of the Devil, stands in horrifying majesty above the seven-headed beast of the sea.
9. Study After Velazquez’s Portrait of Innocent X Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon stands as one of the most impactful artists of the 20th century. Known for his daring and grim figurative style, his paintings command millions, with even his torn canvases – works he destroyed when dissatisfied – fetching small fortunes. Throughout his career, Bacon returned to Velazquez’s portrait of Pope Innocent X, creating numerous studies and reinterpretations. While Velazquez’s original depicts the Pope gazing thoughtfully out of the frame, as if on the verge of speaking, Bacon’s interpretation transforms the Pope into a figure of shrieking torment.
8. Dante and Virgil in Hell William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Dante’s Inferno, with its vivid depiction of endless torment, has been a muse for countless artists since its release. While William-Adolphe Bouguereau is typically known for his serene, classical portrayals, he departs from his usual peaceful scenes in this work, diving into the infernal chaos of hell. Here, souls struggle in an eternal battle for identity, viciously biting one another. A demon takes pleasure in their suffering while Dante and Virgil observe the damned in despair.
In a frenzy, like pigs escaped from their sties, Snapping wildly at everything in sight. One of them locked its teeth like a vice.
7. The Death of Marat Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch, Norway's most renowned artist, is celebrated for his iconic work, 'The Scream,' a profound expression of existential dread that has become ingrained in popular culture. Jean-Paul Marat, a pivotal figure in the French Revolution, was known for his radical views and his battle with a debilitating skin disease. Often found submerged in his bathtub, he worked there until his assassination by Charlotte Corday. Among the many depictions of this brutal event, Munch’s rendition stands out for its stark, visceral portrayal of the moment.
6. Heads Severed Theodore Gericault
Gericault's renowned masterpiece, The Raft of the Medusa, exemplifies the Romantic movement with its vivid emotional intensity. Seeking to break free from the rigidity of classical styles, Gericault used this painting as a precursor to his larger works, focusing on deep human emotion and distress. His preparatory studies involved unsettling visits to morgues and dissection rooms, where he carefully studied severed limbs and heads. These haunting images served to enhance his understanding of life and death, fueling his groundbreaking approach to painting.
5. The Temptation of St. Anthony Matthias Grunewald
Despite living in the Renaissance, Grunewald painted in the medieval style, creating religious imagery that evoked the spiritual struggles of his subjects. St. Anthony, known for enduring trials in the desert, is depicted in the Isenheim Triptych as he succumbs to a horrific attack by demons. These otherworldly creatures mirror the surreal nightmare-like compositions found in the works of Hieronymus Bosch, intensifying the painting’s haunting presence.
4. Mask Still Life III Emil Nolde
Emil Nolde was among the pioneering expressionist artists, although his reputation has recently been overshadowed by other expressionists like Munch. Expressionism is characterized by a deliberate distortion of reality to express a personal, subjective view. This particular piece was created as a study of masks from the Berlin museum, including a shrunken head. Nolde's fascination with diverse cultures is evident in this work, which explores the significance of various masks.
3. The Garden of Earthly Delights Hieronymus Bosch
Hieronymus Bosch is often associated with his unsettling and fantastical religious artwork. His triptych, The Garden of Earthly Delights, depicts three distinct scenes: the Garden of Eden and the creation of humanity on the first panel, the Garden of Earthly Delights on the second, and the final panel portrays the punishments that befall those who sin within the earthly garden. It is the last panel, with its imaginative and terrifying depictions, that has cemented Bosch’s legacy. A cursory glance reveals the horrors of divine punishment, yet a closer look reveals Bosch’s remarkable skill for intricate, witty details. The painting is rich with symbolism, including elements like this portion.
Overall, Bosch’s works are among the most disturbing yet beautiful in Western art history.
2. Judith Beheading Holofernes Caravaggio
The Book of Judith from the Old Testament recounts the story of a courageous widow, Judith, who saves the Israelites. The Israelites are under siege by an army led by Holofernes. Judith, using her beauty, gains Holofernes’ trust. Once she has his confidence, she gets him intoxicated and, aided by her maid, decapitates the general to free her people. This dramatic moment has captivated many artists, but Caravaggio’s rendition stands out for its raw intensity. The grim determination on the face of Judith’s maid contrasts with Judith’s inscrutable expression, while Holofernes’ terror is palpable.
1. Saturn Devouring His Son Francisco Goya
In Roman mythology, heavily influenced by the Greek myth, the father of the gods consumes his own offspring to prevent any child from surpassing him. This horrifying act of filicide is the central theme of Goya’s painting. The artwork was never intended for public viewing, as it was created on the walls of Goya’s home alongside other dark works known as ‘The Black Paintings.’ Some interpret the piece as Goya’s reflection on the inevitable process of aging that may have been preoccupying his mind. Another of Goya’s most renowned Black Paintings is likely his Witches’ Sabbath.
