{"product_id":"the-magic-eye-of-the-young-allison-balfour","title":"The Magic Eye of the young Allison Balfour","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal illustration\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNib and ink on Arches cotton paper\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e300gsm \/ 140lb\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12x9cm \/ 4.8x3.5in (picture size)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e15.5x12.5cm \/ 6.1x4.9in (frame size)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2021\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHoused in a beautiful Florentine wooden gilt and dark red enamel frame\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e__________________________________________________\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1594 trial of alleged witch Allison Balfour or Margaret Balfour[a] is one of the most frequently cited Scottish witchcraft cases. Balfour lived in the Orkney Islands of Scotland in the area of Stenness. At that time in Scotland, the Scottish Witchcraft Act 1563 had made a conviction for witchcraft punishable by death. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.m.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Patrick_Stewart,_2nd_Earl_of_Orkney\" title=\"Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney\"\u003ePatrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney\u003c\/a\u003e, known as Black Patie, had control of Orkney in 1594 at the time of Balfour's trial. Patie was convinced that his younger brothers, especially\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.m.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Stewart,_Earl_of_Carrick\" title=\"John Stewart, Earl of Carrick\"\u003eJohn Stewart, Earl of Carrick\u003c\/a\u003e, were plotting to kill him. Patie discovered poison in the possession of one of John's servants, Thomas Paplay, who after being tortured for eleven days confessed and implicated Balfour among his co-conspirators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough Paplay retracted his confession just before his execution, Balfour and her family were transported to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.m.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kirkwall\" title=\"Kirkwall\"\u003eKirkwall\u003c\/a\u003e, where they were tortured until a confession was extracted. Balfour was tried, found guilty of witchcraft, and sentenced to death. Just as Paplay had done, Balfour retracted her confession immediately before her execution on 16 December 1594, publicly proclaiming her innocence and detailing the tortures carried out on her and members of her family. She was executed at Gallow Ha' in Kirkwall on 16 December 1594.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Black Bile","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40070428229787,"sku":"","price":257.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0334\/3237\/1333\/products\/IMG_20210523_103608-01.jpg?v=1621759823","url":"https:\/\/www.blackbile-studio.com\/es-us\/products\/the-magic-eye-of-the-young-allison-balfour","provider":"Black Bile","version":"1.0","type":"link"}