Description

The Cockatrice (Esoteric Artwork)

The Cockatrice is a mythical creature with its origins in Medieval bestiaries and said to represent pure evil. It is a concoction of a serpent and a rooster.

In this egg tempera painting, I depicted a lot of Middle Ages mythical symbolism. inspired by alchemy, mysticism, astrology and esoteric Christianity.

The symbol of Mercury (associated with the rooster in alchemy), the crown, fire, the ouroboros, infinity, the symbols of Saturn, light and dark, death and resurrection, and good vs evil, pervade this detailed illustration.

I wrote an accompanying piece of music for this painting of the Cockatrice, for solo viola and trumpet. To hear the music and read more about the Cockatrice painting, go to Fantasia No.6 in G minor (The Cockatrice).

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Damian Osborne

Damian Osborne is a fine artist from Cape Town, South Africa. Taking inspiration from the Old Master traditions, from nature, and from the people around him (especially his wife), he tries to push beyond the mediocre and aim for mastery in his paintings.

Latest posts by Damian Osborne (see all)

• What’s the Point of Creating When No One Cares? - 24th August 2025
• Fantasia No.6 in G minor (The Cockatrice) - 3rd May 2025
• Rebirth: Starting Over as an Artist — Part 1 - 17th April 2025