Leonora Carrington, The Alchemists Lesson

Updated August 22, 2026

Leonora Carrington (British-Mexican, 1917-2011) Oil on canvas depicting a surreal interior scene populated by enigmatic figures engaged in a mysterious ritual or lesson. Symbolic creatures, floating elements, and dreamlike architectural details contribute to an atmosphere of fantasy and transformation. Leonora Carrington was a leading figure of the Surrealist movement, celebrated for her imaginative narratives, mystical symbolism, and fantastical beings. Her paintings often merged folklore, alchemy, mythology, and personal mythology into richly symbolic visual worlds. Medium: Oil on canvas. Description: The composition presents a seated figure receiving instruction from a robed elder while several masked and spectral characters observe. Floating birds, hybrid forms, and symbolic objects create a theatrical scene suggestive of esoteric knowledge and surreal storytelling. Dimensions: Unframed: 22 1/8 x 19 5/8 Framed: 27 3/8 x 25 Provenance: Private collection.

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