A Wolf Had Not Been Seen at Salem for Thirty Years, 1909,
from “The Salem Wolf,” by Howard Pyle,
in Harper’s Monthly Magazine
Howard Pyle (1853-1911)
December 1909
Oil on canvas
Museum Purchase, 1912

Read the stories inspired by this painting

As this story by Howard Pyle unfolds, the Deacon’s daughter Miriam, promised in marriage to a local boy, is believed to transform into a wild wolf due to a curse from Granny Whitlow, a witch. Eventually the wolf attacks the Deacon and is fought off by Miriam’s intended, who later finds Miriam afflicted by the same wound that he delivered to the wolf. In the end, Miriam dies of her injury, ridding the family of the curse.