Macbeth and the Witches (Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 1)

Francesco Zuccarelli was born in Pitigliano, Tuscany, and studied in Florence under Giovanni Domenico Ferretti before moving to Venice in 1732. There he was influenced by the work of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and began to develop his own style of pastoral landscapes. Zuccarelli's paintings often depict idyllic rural scenes with shepherds, peasants and animals against a backdrop of rolling hills and blue skies. His use of soft colours and delicate brushstrokes lends a dreamlike quality to his work. In 1752 Zuccarelli moved to London, where he became a popular artist with the aristocracy. In 1768 he became a founder member of the Royal Academy and exhibited there until his death in 1788. Today, Zuccarelli's paintings can be found in museums and private collections around the world. His influence can also be seen in the work of later artists such as J.M.W. Turner and John Constable.