Skip to main content
Wellcome Collection homepage
  • Visit us
  • What’s on
  • Stories
  • Collections
  • Get involved
  • About us
Sign in to your library account
Search for anything
Library account

Magic

From ancient spells to shaman rituals, our collection explores the historical role of magic in healing and culture.

Part of
Occultism

On this page

  • Images from the collections
  • Works from the collections
  • Related topics

Images from the collections

Images about Magic

65 images from works
  • A wizard and his accomplice performing incantations in a forest during a full moon. Etching by S. Palmer and A.H. Palmer.
  • The witch of Endor conjures the ghost of Samuel; Saul bows before him on the right. Etching, 18th century.
  • A traveller being entranced by a witch disguised as a beautiful woman in the Alps. Engraving by T. Stocks after F. Meadows.
  • Witchcraft: Robert Hunt, with two other men, surmounted by a devil. Woodcut, 1720.
  • Witchcraft: a witch and a devil in a circle. Woodcut, 1720.
  • The hierarchie of the blessed angells. Their names, orders and offices / The fall of Lucifer with his angells. Written by Tho. Heywood.
  • Saul collapses as the witch of Endor conjures Samuel from the dead. Wood engraving after J. Schnorr von Carolsfeld.
  • Witchcraft: witches giving babies to the devil. Woodcut, 1720.
  • A witch holding a plant in one hand and a fan in the other. Woodcut, ca. 1700-1720.
  • Witchcraft: witches and devils dancing in a circle. Woodcut, 1720.

Works from the collections

772 works

    • Pictures
    • Online

    A witch at her table being helped by her attendant: they are surrounded by various bottles, mortars and jars. Etching by W. Unger.

    Unger, William, 1837-1932. | Reference: 37987i
    • Books

    The bridle of Pegasus : studies in magic, mythology and folklore / by Warren R. Dawson.

    Dawson, Warren R. (Warren Royal), 1888-1968. | Date: [1930]
    • Books

    Magia, rito y ciencia : la medicina náhuatl / Martha Eugenia Rodríguez de Engell.

    Engell, Martha Eugenia Rodríguez de. | Date: 1993
    • Books

    Magika hiera : ancient Greek magic and religion / edited by Christopher A. Faraone and Dirk Obbink.

    | Date: 1991
    • Books

    Occult science in medicine / [Franz Hartmann].

    Hartmann, Franz, 1838-1912. | Date: 1893

Related topics

Witchcraft
Occultism
Medicine, Traditional
Alchemy
Ancient
Demonology
Talismans
Astrology
Jewish literature
Medieval

Wellcome Collection

183 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE

+44 (0)20 7611 2222
info@wellcomecollection.org

  • Getting here

Today’s opening times

  • Galleries
    10:00 – 18:00
  • Library
    10:00 – 18:00
  • Café
    10:00 – 18:00
  • Shop
    10:00 – 18:00

Opening times

Our building has:

  • Step free access
  • Hearing loops

Access information

  • Visit us
  • What’s on
  • Stories
  • Collections
  • Get involved
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Jobs
  • Media office
  • Developers
  • Privacy and terms
  • Cookie policy
  • Manage cookies
  • Modern slavery statement
TikTok
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence