Middle ages Quote by Jean Lorrain
““And then I recalled those mysterious stories about the waxworkers of the middle ages and the public reprobation attached to their trade. Did they not live in cellars, in the eternal twilight propitious for enchantments and apparitions? Their visionary art (who, more than they, evoked a truer image of life?) was closely related to that of magicians: bewitchments were carried out with wax figures, witch trials are full of them, and one particular legend haunted me above all, that of the modeler from Anspach, who slowly squeezed the soul and the life out of his model in order to animate his painted waxwork and then, having finished his work of art, awaited nightfall to go and bury the corpse in the ditch at the city walls.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Waxworkers” by Jean Lorrain, 1904
The narrator describes the dark, secretive world of waxworkers, linking their craft to witchcraft and the haunting legend of a modeler who extracts souls.
In simple terms: Waxworkers are linked to dark magic and soul extraction.
Key Takeaway
Beware of art that consumes life.
Themes
mystery
dark arts
legends
Mood
eerie
thoughtful
Type
literary
mythical
When to use this quote
- historical folklore
- creative inspiration
- ethical art practices
Key Concepts
alchemy
souls
artistic obsession
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the soul‑extraction metaphor suggest?
- How do we separate myth from reality?
A Different Perspective
The legend may be metaphorical, not literal.
![“The earliest witch-trial in the British Isles shows animal sacrifice. In 1324 in Ireland Lady Alice Kyteler 'was charged to haue nightlie conference with a spirit called Robin Artisson, to whom she sacrificed in the high waie .ix. red cocks'.[610]” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d0b/anonymous-1_sacrifice_the-earliest-witch-trial-in-the-british_678185.jpg)
