Duck that Witch is a popular modern tale that has gained a lot of attention in recent years. The story revolves around a talking duck named Quack who finds himself caught in the middle of a battle between good and evil. The main antagonist of the story is a powerful witch known as Magenta. She has cast a spell on the peaceful town of Featherfield, turning its residents into mindless zombies. Quack, being the brave and fearless duck that he is, takes it upon himself to free the town from the clutches of the wicked witch. Armed with his wit and some magical powers of his own, Quack embarks on a journey to track down Magenta and put an end to her evil deeds.
We see how both women suffered from their upbringing in a country that favors males and discourages girls, yet both escaped and became successful in the Western world. Some of the best parts of the novel occur in London when they encounter a hard-line Muslim at Speaker’s Corner and decide to play a trick on him. Huda knows her Koran well—her father was very religious—better even than the Taliban-like speaker they spar with in Hyde Park.
This story s characters include an archeologist and his wife; the young scion of a powerful family, Keith, cut off and cast out by his father; and a young woman, Celeste, influenced by the above-mentioned couple who helped raise her and sympathetic to Keith. These creatures measure over four inches from stem to stern, and each has five eyes this makes ten eyes peering at you from whichever frond they happen to be dining and humping on.
Armed with his wit and some magical powers of his own, Quack embarks on a journey to track down Magenta and put an end to her evil deeds. Along the way, he meets a host of colorful characters, including a wise old owl, a mischievous squirrel, and a kind-hearted fox. As Quack travels through enchanted forests, treacherous swamps, and towering mountains, he faces numerous challenges and obstacles.
Witch Duck Creek
Description In preparation for a portfolio of engravings entitled Picturesque Views of American Scenery, Joshua Shaw traveled south in 1819–1820 in pursuit of suitably picturesque places. The locale for Witch Duck Creek appears to be Witchduck Point near Virginia Beach, Virginia. The site is associated with the witchcraft trials of Grace Sherwood in 1705–1706; she was subjected to an ordeal by water, or “ducking” in the Lynnhaven River, but swam to safety signaling that she was in fact guilty. Over the years legends flourished until 2006 when she received a posthumous pardon.
In addition to Sherwood’s tale, which would have intrigued Shaw, the painting contains such picturesque conventions as moonlight, misty atmosphere, dead branches, and framing trees. The cool palette of silvery blues and greens imparts a mysterious quality to the overall composition in keeping with the picturesque aesthetic. The thin, even application of paint is punctuated by small areas of impasto to define foliage and clouds, creating a shimmering effect. A dark foreground contrasts the bright middle ground where the moon is reflected in the creek.
The canvas has been variously dated, but the fact that Picturesque Views of American Scenery includes an aquatint engraving that is remarkably similar suggests the painting dates to 1820–1821. John Hill, noted printmaker and Shaw’s collaborator, appears to have used the painting as his source, but also made some modifications, including changing the title to Oyster Cove, Lynnhaven Bay. [1] The carefully painted trompe-l’oeil mat that surrounds the view is a technique that aided Hill in the conversion of the painting into aquatint, and implies the canvas was intended for reproduction as a print. Confusion about the date of the painting stems from the fact that it was exhibited at the Artist’s Fund Society in Philadelphia in 1835. Some scholars believe that Shaw planned to publish a second set of views in the mid-1830s, but this project, like the first one, never came to fruition. Others believe that eight similarly sized and presented paintings depicting southern scenes date close to the time of his trip south in 1819–1820. [2]
Witch Duck Creek is one of about a dozen small paintings with painted borders that derived from Shaw’s southern sojourn. A pioneer in painting southern landscapes, Shaw was enthusiastic about his experiences in the region. On his return trip he stopped in Norfolk to visit fellow artist and biographer William Dunlap who recorded in his diary: “Shaw came in, just returned from Savannah, Augusta, etc. and represents the South as a paradise of riches.” [3]
Notes:
[1] For an illustration see Charles C. Eldredge, Barbara Babcock Millhouse, and Robert G. Workman, American Originals: Selections from Reynolda House, Museum of American Art (New York: Abbeville Press, 1990), 40. The measurements of the engraving and the painting are very close.
[2] See Thomas Quick, “Joshua Shaw: Recently Discovered Landscape Paintings,” An Alluring Path II (New York: Godel & Co. Fine Art, 2004), 54–64, and Martha R. Severens, A Paradise of Riches: Joshua Shaw and the Southern Frontier (Greenville, SC: Greenville County Museum of Art, 2008).
[3] William Dunlap, Diary of William Dunlap (1766–1839): The Memoirs of a Dramatist, Theatrical Manager, Painter, Critic, Novelist and Historian (New York: New York Historical Society, 1931), entry for April 9, 1820, 501 and 527.
Provenance Private Collection, London. [1]
1961
Sabin Galleries, London. [2]
From 1961 to 1966
Kennedy Galleries, New York NY. [3]
1966
Charles H. Babcock, Sr. (1899-1967), purchased from Kennedy Galleries, New York in December 1966. [4]
From 1966
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Winston-Salem NC, given by Charles H. Babcock, Sr. [5]
Note:
[1] Kennedy Gallery, Inc. documents, Object file.
[2] See note 1.
[3] See note 1.
[4] Receipt from Kennedy Galleries, Inc., Object file.
[5] Letter from Barbara Lassiter (Millhouse) to Reynolda House on January 21, 1967.
Exhibition History 1971
Reynolda House American Paintings
Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York NY (1/13/1971-1/31/1971)
Cat. No. 8
For the benefit of the Smith College Scholarship Fund
1990-1992
American Originals, Selections from Reynolda House Museum of American Art
The American Federation of Arts
Center for the Fine Arts, Miami FL (9/22/1990-11/18/1990)
Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs CA (12/16/1990-2/10/1991)
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York NY (3/6/1991-5/11/1991)
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis TN (6/2/1991-7/28/1991)
Amon Carter Museum of Western Art, Fort Worth TX (8/17/1991-10/20/1991)
Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago IL (11/17/1991-1/12/1992)
The Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK (3/1/1992-4/26/1992)
Cat. No. 8
2005
Vanguard Collecting: American Art at Reynolda House
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Winston-Salem NC (4/1/2005-8/21/2005)
2011-2012
Wonder & Enlightenment: Artist-Naturalists in the Early American South
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Winston-Salem, NC (8/13/2011- 2/20/2012)
2012
Mystical Visions, Divine Revelations: Religion and Spirituality in 19th Century Art
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Winston-Salem, NC (3/31/2012 – 11/25/2012)
Published References Hood, David Ford. Magnolia. Southern Garden History Society, Vol. XXIV No. 2, Spring 2011
Lassiter, Barbara B. Reynolda House American Paintings. Winston-Salem, NC: Reynolda House, Inc., 1971: 18, illus. 19.
Millhouse, Barbara B. and Robert Workman. American Originals. New York: Abbeville Press Publishers, 1990: 40-3.
Kennedy Quarterly, Kennedy Galleries, IV (April 1964): illus. 134.
Archer, Philip R. and Martha R. Severens, "Artist-Naturalists in the Early American South" American Art Review Vol.XXIV, No.1 (2012)
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Reynolda: Her Muses, Her Stories , with contributions by Martha R. Severens and David Park Curry (Winston-Salem, N.C.: Reynolda House Museum of American Art affiliated with Wake Forest University, 2017).pg. 104, 105, 120
- American Landscape: Westward Expansion
Witch Duck Creek is one of about a dozen small paintings with painted borders that derived from Shaw’s southern sojourn. A pioneer in painting southern landscapes, Shaw was enthusiastic about his experiences in the region. On his return trip he stopped in Norfolk to visit fellow artist and biographer William Dunlap who recorded in his diary: “Shaw came in, just returned from Savannah, Augusta, etc. and represents the South as a paradise of riches.” [3]
He must solve riddles, outsmart dangerous creatures, and gather magical artifacts to strengthen his powers. The story takes an unexpected twist when Quack discovers that Magenta has a tragic backstory, which explains her turn to darkness. This revelation leaves Quack torn between his duty to defeat her and his compassion for her plight. Ultimately, Quack realizes that defeating Magenta is not just about vanquishing a witch, but about finding forgiveness and redemption for both himself and Magenta. Through a series of trials and tests, Quack demonstrates the power of empathy and understanding, teaching readers valuable lessons about the complexities of good and evil. The story concludes with an epic battle between Quack and Magenta, where the true strength of friendship, love, and forgiveness is put to the test. In the end, Quack triumphs over evil, freeing Featherfield from Magenta's spell and restoring peace to the town. Duck that Witch is a captivating and heartwarming tale that emphasizes the importance of kindness and understanding. It is a story that reminds us that appearances can be deceiving, and everyone deserves a second chance. Whether young or old, readers can relate to Quack's journey and learn valuable lessons about empathy, forgiveness, and the power of a brave little duck..
Reviews for "The Enigma of the Duck Witch: An Unsolved Mystery"
1. John - 2 stars
I found "Duck that Witch" to be quite disappointing. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary twists and turns. The characters lacked depth and were unlikable, making it hard to care about what happened to them. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it even harder to connect with the story. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book.
2. Emily - 1 star
I really struggled to get through "Duck that Witch". The pacing was incredibly slow, and I often found myself losing interest. The writing style was choppy and disjointed, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. The main character was poorly developed and made irrational decisions throughout. I was also disappointed by the lack of resolution in the ending. Overall, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this book.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"Duck that Witch" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver. The pacing was all over the place, with long-winded descriptions that led nowhere. The world-building was weak, leaving many unanswered questions. The romance subplot felt forced and added nothing to the overall story. The main character's motivations were unclear, making it hard to root for them. Overall, I found this book to be a frustrating and unsatisfying read.
4. Michael - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Duck that Witch" based on the positive reviews, but I was sorely disappointed. The story lacked originality and fell into predictable tropes. The writing was subpar, with awkward phrasing and repetitive descriptions. I also struggled to care about the characters, as they felt one-dimensional and lacked depth. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired. I would not recommend this book to others.