Man Proposes, God Disposes
Edwin Landseer’s 1864 painting, Man Proposes, God Disposes, is rumored to be haunted and a bad omen. Found hanging at Royal Holloway College in England, the painting is covered with a Union Jack flag during exams. Legend has it, a student once ended his own life during an exam, writing ‘the polar bears made me do it’ before stabbing himself in the eye with a pencil.
The Portrait of Bernardo de Galvez
The Portrait of Bernardo de Galvez, currently hanging in the Hotel Galvez, Texas , is believed to bring bad luck or misfortune to those who possess it. Legends suggest that the owners of this portrait experienced financial woes and accidents. Some attribute these misfortunes to the portrait itself, leading to its reputation as a cursed painting.
The Woman from Lemb statue
Housed at the Cyprus Museum, The Woman from Lemb, an ancient sculpture dating back to 3500 BC, is believed to bring bad luck and death to its owners. Nicknamed ‘the goddess of death’, this small, 7-inch tall limestone figurine is associated with a series of misfortunes, including deaths of various owners and even a curse inscribed on a note found with the sculpture.
Death and the Child
An 1899 copy of Edvard Munch’s painting Death and the Child has claimed to be haunted by previous owners. Depicting a child muffling the sounds of her dying mother, legend has it, you can hear the bedsheets rustling and the child’s eyes will follow you around the room. Claims that the child will completely vanish at times from the canvas have also been made.
The works of Arshile Gorky
Arshile Gorky’s artworks, produced from 1904 to 1938, are said to carry a curse. Reports suggest that paintings have inexplicably fallen from walls, ignited in flames and visited by a ghostly figure donning a blue overcoat. On March 1, 1962, a tragic plane crash occurred just minutes after take-off, claiming the lives of 87 passengers, 8 crew members, and destroying 15 abstract Gorky paintings on board.
The Rain Woman
In 1996, artist Svetlana Telets experienced an eerie sensation of a constant presence watching her for six months. This feeling led to The Rain Woman. After displaying it locally, successive buyers returned it, claiming a haunting figure followed them in their homes and dreams. Musician Sergei Skachkov purchased it in 2008, but his wife hid it after seeing a ghostly figure in their apartment at night.
The Anguished Man
The Anguished Man is a painting by an unknown artist. Sean Robinson, from Cumbria, England, inherited it from his grandmother. Apparently, the artist had mixed his own blood into the paint before tragically ended his life after completing the work. In 2010, Robinson uploaded videos to his YouTube channel, detailing strange occurrences in his house, including eerie cries and a fleeting figure.
Pogo the Clown
A 1990s self-portrait, signed by serial killer John Wayne Gacy, portrays his alter-ego Pogo the Clown. Musician Nikki Stone acquired it for $3,000 in 2001. Stone’s life then took a dark turn: his dog passed away, and his mother was diagnosed with cancer. A friend offered to take it, but shortly thereafter, the friend’s neighbor died in a car accident.
Portrait of a Lady
Legend surrounds Portrait of a Lady, an undated portrait by Juan Luna that allegedly depicts his wife, Paz Pardo de Tavera, whom Luna is said to have murdered. According to legend, the painting harbors Paz’s vengeful spirit, cursing its owners with misfortune. During a 1987 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the spotlight bulb above the painting mysteriously exploded.
The Hands Resist Him
Bill Stoneham’s 1972 artwork, The Hands Resist Him, has gained notoriety for its mysterious qualities. According to reports, the characters depicted in the painting are believed to come to life, moving or even leaving the canvas during the night. This enigmatic artwork currently resides at the Perception Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where visitors can witness its unsettling presence.
Zdzisław Beksiński untitled works
Zdzisław Beksiński’s haunting artwork is the stuff of nightmares. The Polish painter left his creations untitled, and rumors persist that he destroyed some in secrecy. Beksiński’s life was marked by sorrow, with his wife’s 1998 death, his son’s suicide a year later, and his own murder six years after. Some even claim that prolonged exposure to his art leads to an untimely demise.
Love Letters
Displayed at Austin’s Driskill Hotel, a copy of Love Letters by Richard King is intertwined with tragedy. In 1887, the hotel witnessed the tragic death of US senator Temple Lea Houston’s four-year-old daughter, Samantha, who fell down a staircase. Though the artwork doesn’t depict Samantha, eerie parallels exist. Some claim her spirit haunts the painting, noting its ‘shifting expressions’ and an unsettling aura.
The Dibbuk Box
Though not a work of art, this ornate wine cabinet still has an eerie story behind it. Believed to originate in Eastern Europe, it’s linked to Jewish folklore’s dibbuks, which are said to be capable of possessing the living. This cursed object gained fame through a notorious eBay sale, with tales of nightmares, health problems, and financial woes for owners. It even inspired the 2012 horror film The Possession.
The Music Lesson
Johannes Vermeer’s The Music Lesson features figures in the background and while at first their features can’t be made out, what follows for observers is terrifying. Witnesses report seeing glimpses of their long-deceased relatives in the faces or peering in the windows of this otherwise serene masterpiece, lending an unsettling aura to the artwork.
The Crying Boy
One of the most widely reported incidents involving Giovanni Bragolin’s The Crying Boy paintings occurred in the 1980s. A family in Rotherham, England, experienced a devastating house fire. The blaze consumed their home, leaving it in ruins. Remarkably, the only item that remained intact amid the charred remains was a Crying Boy painting hanging on one of the walls.
The Dark Mirror
Found among items in the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult, a black mirror takes center stage. The museum acquired it from the original buyer, who obtained it at a psychic fair in Columbus. This individual experienced distressing visions while peering into it. Visitors, too, have recounted unsettling encounters, including glimpses of their own lifeless forms staring back at them.
The Scream
With one of four copies sold at auction in 2022 for $119,922,500, Edvard Munch’s famous painting The Scream is rumored to be haunted by the artist’s troubled past. Some say they have heard screams when they gaze upon it. Munch’s tumultuous life, including his family’s history of mental illness, adds to the aura of eeriness surrounding the artwork.
Black Aggie
The Black Aggie statue, officially known as the Adams Memorial, is a somber sculpture located in Druid Ridge Cemetery in Maryland, USA. Designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1891, it marks the grave of Marian Adams, a woman who tragically lost her life. Claims that the statue moves and grass will not grow around it have been made throughout the years.
The Memorial
The Memorial was painted by artist Benton Spruance in 1951. Visually, the work is spooky to look at, much in line with Spruance’s other works. Following his death in 1967, the Memorial was gifted to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington for display. Upon receipt of the work, staff and visitors claimed an eerie feeling around it, so it was removed from public viewing.
The portrait of Delphine LaLaurie
Delphine LaLaurie, infamous for torturing slaves in 1834, saw her mansion razed by locals. In the 1970s, the mansion’s ruins on Royal Street were transformed. In 1997, artist Ricardo Pustanio painted her portrait and it was hung in the renovated building. The artwork stirred eerie reports of supernatural occurrences, including moving objects, whispers, and cold touches. Many believe LaLaurie’s malevolent spirit haunts it.
The Headless Man
This artwork, a reinterpretation of a 1990s photograph by the artist Laura P, holds an eerie secret. In the painting, an inexplicable headless figure stands beside a wagon, an element absent in the original photo. Mysterious events ensued after it was displayed in a local office: missing papers, the painting found askew, and odd occurrences. Eventually, it returned to Laura P’s home, where it according to myth haunted her.
The Statue of Osiris
In 1971, during an excavation led by Walter Bryan Emery in Egypt, a statue of Osiris was unearthed. Upon bringing it to his office, Emery experienced severe distress and suffered a stroke, resulting in partial paralysis. Sadly, he passed away shortly thereafter. The statue was eventually returned to its native Egypt, where its presence seemed to carry an ominous legacy.
Portrait of Henrietta Nelson
Henrietta Nelson died in a tragic fall down the stairs of Yaxley Hall in Eye, England in 1846. Her burial in an on-site mausoleum per her wishes was disrupted by later property owners, who demolished it and relocated her remains to a nearby church. A portrait by William Johnson is believed to house her spirit, with viewers witnessing her face moving and watching them.
The Statue of Balzac
The Statue of Balzac in Paris, crafted by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, holds a curious mystique. It is believed that touching the statue’s feet can leave a curse. Visitors to the statue have shared personal stories of experiencing creative setbacks or personal challenges after coming into contact with it.
The Scariest Picture on the Internet (Real)
A contemporary twist on haunted artwork is the unsettling Scariest Picture on the Internet (Real). Featuring a young Asian girl, it gained viral fame in the early 2000s. Legend has it that it’s a portrait of a bullied girl, her boyfriend using it as a curse on her tormentors. Observers claim that gazing into her blue eyes induces a trance-like state, and even death.
The Soul Bowl
Listed on the Trade Me website, this painting features a bowl against a backdrop reminiscent of fiery hell, with the inscription “the shape of my soul is a bowl.” Its origins trace back to an antique shop in New Zealand, but after bringing it home, the owner experienced unsettling incidents like the painting falling off the wall and witnessing a dark figure moving from her bedroom to the artwork.
The Painting of Maria Ivanovna
The Painting of Maria Ivanovna was crafted by Russian artist Vladimir Borovikovsky in 1797, with the subject being the young Maria. After her tuberculosis-related demise, superstition began to surround the painting, attributing it to bad luck and the untimely demise of unmarried girls. It was even linked to several tragic deaths during that period.
Old Nick
This carving of ‘Old Nick’ can be found in Swansea, Wales. Reportedly carved from the wood of a gallows in 1890, this eerie sculpture depicts the devil, or Old Nick. It is said to bring misfortune and tragedy to those who the carving looks at. It was carved by an architect whose designs for St. Mary’s Church had been rejected, so he erected it opposite the church.
Left Hand on Deathbed
Left Hand on Deathbed, painted by Théodore Géricault, is accompanied by a chilling story. Géricault used real amputated limbs from the morgue as models. People have reported feeling a cold hand on their neck or a gentle pushing while viewing this painting. Adding to the eerie aura, Géricault tragically passed away just eight hours after completing this artwork. This piece is now hidden from public view.
The Spirit of the Bartender
In 2018, Reddit user FreezingM00n purchased a ‘haunted’ painting from a thrift store for his college dorm. It depicted a creepy ventriloquist-like bartender whose eyes seemed to follow his roommates. After strange occurrences, including loud banging at the door and heavy phantom footsteps, they donated the painting to a bar. However, after continued creepy activity at the bar, it was thrown away.
The Painting of Marie Laveau
On exhibit at the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum, The Painting of Marie Laveau unnerves some visitors who feel her cold gaze. Legend holds that viewing it leads to haunting nightmares by Marie herself. Tour guides insist on solo visits, refusing to approach it. Furthermore, some say that when trying to develop photos of the painting, they simply come out blank.
Monet Exhibition at Cleveland Art Museum
During preparations for the 2015 Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse exhibition at the Cleveland Art Museum, a startling sight emerged. A man resembling Monet, complete with beard and bowler hat, appeared on a balcony, reminiscent of a vintage Monet photograph. The museum’s design and architecture director, Jeffrey Strean, captured this uncanny moment.
The Walking Madonna
The Walking Madonna, situated in the Cimitero di San Michele in Venice, Italy, stands as a remarkable and somewhat eerie testament to artistry. Sculpted by Italian artist Luigi Benzoni, this intricately detailed statue was erected in the cemetery to honor the departed. Its reputation for moving autonomously, often noted during Good Friday observances, has perplexed witnesses who attest to observing the statue subtly shifting positions.
Ivan the Terrible and His Son
Housed at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, the alleged curse linked to Ilya Repin’s painting Ivan the Terrible and His Son stems from a series of tragic events surrounding it. Repin’s son was killed in a dispute over the painting in 1912. A year later, a mentally unstable man attacked the artwork with a knife, damaging both the painting and himself.
The cursed charity shop portrait
A mysterious portrait of a young girl has garnered attention after being bought at and returned twice to a UK charity shop in 2023. Reported by Insider, the first buyer returned it, citing a “creepy aura.” A second purchaser also brought it back, claiming that “everything’s gone wrong.” The painting’s unsettling reputation has led to speculation that it might be cursed.
Myrtles Plantation Mirror
Located at the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, the Myrtles Plantation Mirror is shrouded in a haunting legend. According to local lore, the mirror once belonged to Sara Woodruff and her children. Tragically, they were poisoned, and their spirits are said to haunt the plantation. The mirror reportedly holds their tormented souls, with their ghostly figures appearing in its reflection alongside children’s hand prints.
The Portrait of Lady Ossington
Built in 1882 by Viscountess Ossington, the coffee palace on Beastmarket Hill aimed to offer travelers alcohol-free accommodation. For nearly a century, the portrait adorned the Ossington Coffee Palace in Newark, Nottinghamshire. However, when alcohol sales commenced, legend has it that Lady Ossington’s ghost grew offended. Reports emerged of her portrait mysteriously flying from the wall in protest.
Untitled by Yūko Tsushima
Yūko Tsushima is known for her strange and haunting artwork, often depicting nightmarish visuals. One of her works, however, garnered a lot of attention online, for all the wrong reasons. Observers claimed they felt sudden waves of nausea and depression wash over them when viewing the painting of a creepy looking girl staring at them.
The Basano Vase
The Basano Vase, an enigmatic artifact, carries a chilling legend. As the story goes, a noblewoman in 15th-century Italy received the vase as a wedding gift but met a tragic end. She was mysteriously murdered on her wedding night. Before her death, she clutched the vase, cursing it. Subsequent owners faced untimely demises or misfortune, leading many to believe the vase is cursed.
The Laughing Cavalier
The Laughing Cavalier, painted by Dutch artist Frans Hals in 1624, is a celebrated artwork on display at the Wallace Collection in London, United Kingdom. The painting features a jovial cavalier with a dynamic and engaging expression. What adds to its intrigue is the phenomenon some viewers describe: the subject’s expression appearing to change or follow observers as they navigate the room.
