How does The Examination of a Witch (painting) elucidate its The time the painting was set?
The painting may represent an event in 1692, during the Salem witch trials, the subject being one Mary Fisher. The year of 1656 is more likely, as Mary was then captured with Ann Austin, which makes 1692 less likely than 1656.As Mary Fisher was a Quaker, the Puritans did not welcome her, having condemned the Boston martyrs, a group of Quakers, to death. In the painting, some have visibly fainted. Note how she is being shamefully stripped to determine whether or not she was a witch, but the witches' mark is on her, confirming her guilt.
Mary Fisher stripped Salem witch trials shamefully witch Quaker Boston martyrs Quakers Puritans Ann Austin painting witches' mark