7 Artworks Allegedly Haunted

Numerous artists have delved into supernatural themes, depicting ghosts and eerie locations in their creations. Works like Lizzie Siddal’s The Haunted Wood (1856) vividly portray these spectral forms, while others, such as William Holman Hunt’s The Haunted Manor (1849), adopt a subtler approach to capturing haunted settings. But what happens when an artwork itself is rumored to be haunted? The 2019 film Velvet Buzzsaw examined this concept in its plot, yet several real-world pieces also come with tales of paranormal activity. Here are some examples.

Caryatid Statue from the Parthenon Marbles

The Parthenon Sculptures, often referred to as the Elgin Marbles, were transported from Athens to London in the 1800s by Lord Elgin, a diplomat. They are currently housed in the British Museum, despite ongoing demands for their repatriation to Greece. One of these sculptures, a caryatid dating back to 421–406 BCE, originally stood at the Acropolis alongside five similar statues until Elgin took it. Legend has it that the caryatid was heard crying inside the crate during its journey from Athens to London. Noah Angell, who began investigating the museum’s haunted artifacts in 2016, shared with The Economist in 2020 that the tales surrounding the caryatid and other globally acquired items “hint at a sense of unease within the objects themselves.”

Portrait of Jean-Gabriel du Theil at the Signing of the Treaty of Vienna

Jean-Gabriel du Theil, a French diplomat who acted as foreign affairs secretary for Louis XV of France, played a key role in the 1738 Treaty of Vienna, which granted France dominion over the Duchy of Lorraine. This portrait, created by Jacques André Joseph Aved between 1739–40, captures du Theil during the treaty’s signing. Currently housed at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio, the painting is said to be haunted by du Theil’s spirit. Witnesses claim to have seen him gazing at his own likeness in the gallery before vanishing into the canvas.

A Boy in a Red-lined Cloak

Another artwork in Cleveland’s collection rumored to be haunted is Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s A Boy in a Red-lined Cloak, painted in the 1780s. While unconfirmed, it’s speculated that the boy depicted is Fragonard’s son, Alexander Evariste Fragonard. The painting is said to be haunted due to unexplained movements between exhibit cases, leading some to believe it shifts on its own. 

Portrait of General Bonaparte

The Louvre has long been associated with supernatural events, and among its collection is Jacques-Louis David’s unfinished portrait of Napoleon, created in 1797–98. Legend has it that a soldier who admired Napoleon and wished to see his portrait died at the Battle of Waterloo before fulfilling his desire. His ghost is said to haunt the painting, with some visitors claiming to witness him saluting or weeping nearby.

Portrait of Lady Ossington

Lady Ossington, a Victorian businesswoman, established a “coffee palace” in Newark, England, in 1882, offering travelers an alcohol-free lodging option. A portrait of her, painted in 1863 by an unidentified artist, was displayed in the coffee house. Decades later, when the building became a pub, rumors emerged of the portrait mysteriously falling off the wall, possibly due to Lady Ossington’s disapproval of alcohol being served. The painting was eventually removed and stored, but it is now available for viewing online.

Man Proposes, God Disposes

Edwin Landseer’s 1864 painting Man Proposes, God Disposes, housed at Royal Holloway, University of London, depicts two polar bears feasting on the remnants of a shipwreck from Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated expedition to the Northwest Passage. Beyond its unsettling imagery, the artwork is steeped in superstition. It’s considered bad luck to sit exams in front of the painting, and an urban legend claims a student perished after doing so (though this is unverified). Due to the unease it causes, staff have covered the painting during exams since the 1970s.

Untitled Portrait

A purportedly haunted portrait of a young girl has garnered attention in recent years. Purchased from a UK charity shop, the buyer found it unsettling and returned it within days. A second buyer also returned it after feeling similarly disturbed, only to later reclaim it.

The origins of the portrait remain a mystery—its creation date, artist, and subject are all unknown, as is its title. The painting’s eerie presence has fueled rumors of it being haunted or cursed, with tales of misfortune befalling its owners. Recently acquired by the London Bridge Experience, the attraction has reported encountering a streak of bad luck since obtaining the artwork.