The third film in our series exploring the remarkable collections of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
In this episode, Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb investigates the shifting image of witches in the early modern imagination. In conversation with curator An Van Camp, we trace how witches were portrayed in prints and drawings from the 15th to the 17th centuries - sometimes grotesque, sometimes seductive, but always threatening. From dark woodcuts to intricate engravings, we uncover the fears and fantasies that shaped these depictions.
Along the way, we encounter one of the most curious objects in the museum: a witch’s bottle, sealed and buried to protect against harmful magic. These artefacts reveal a world gripped by anxiety, where superstition, religion, and art collided in the struggle to explain the unexplainable.
Up Next in Early Modern
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Henry VIII
In today's episode, Dan is joined by fellow history presenter Suzannah Lipscomb to discuss the history of Henry VIII and the impact he had on Britain over the years.
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Henry VIII: Statesman or Tyrant?
On Midsummer's Day in 1509 a 17 year old was crowned king of England. He would go on to transform his realm over almost four decades on the throne. He would revolutionise its religion, reforge its politics and its relations with neighbouring countries, and establish a royal navy. But, by the time...
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Margaret Beaufort: Mother of the Tudors
Nicola Tallis comes on the show to talk about the extraordinary Margaret Beaufort: 'Mother of the Tudors' and the ancestor of all subsequent royals.
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