Theodore gericault created one of the most iconic masterpieces of french romanticism, the raft of the medusa 181819. Gericault satirically comments on the instability of the french government. The medusa was a french frigate wrecked in 1816 on the arguin banks, off cape blanco, senegal. Upon viewing this piece, it becomes immediately apparent that there is a tense struggle being depicted by gericault. Article pdf available in archives of general psychiatry 636. The raft of the medusa was based off a shipwreck that happened in 1816 when the frigate, medusa, ran ashore off the west coast of africa. The raft of the medusa romantic characteristics what characteristics in the painting the raft of the medusa qualify the work as romantic. Entitled shipwreck, barness carefully wrought essay confronts his read. Completed when the artist was the work has become an icon of french romanticism. The raft of the medusa s influence on the work of the young delacroix was immediately apparent in this painting, as well as in later works. Start studying the raft of the medusa theodore gericault.
In a book brimming with trials and harsh judgments, a history of the. The painting, which hangs in the louvre in paris, portrays the twisted bodies of the dead and dying on a raft built from the shipwreck of the french naval frigate meduse to prepare for painting the carnage depicted in his masterpiece. The medusa, an illpiloted ship in the nineteenth century, runs aground and sets sailors adrift in a rickety raft. The composition of the piece is also quite inspirational as this aspect of the raft of the medusa was dissected countless times, just as the case was with the greatest of paintings made ages before theodore gericault was even born. The painting, which hangs in the louvre in paris, portrays the twisted bodies of the dead and dying on a raft. On, edit images, videos and 360 photos in one place.
This work depicts the aftermath of a contemporary french shipwreck, whose survivors embarked on a raft and were decimated by starvation before being rescued at sea. Theodore gericault the raft of the medusa, 181819, on view in louvre. This is reflected through the composition as the traumatic atmosphere of the victims act as a personified collapse of the government. Based on a controversial and politically charged event, the raft of the medusa is gericaults most ambitious work.
There is a clear influence of michelangelos renaissance vision of classicism in the idealized muscular forms of the. Like all great works of art, the raft of the medusa transmits its deep. For instance the raft creates a pyramid formation over the dying individuals in the lower left corner. Raft of the medusa theodore gericault, raft of the medusa, 18181819 oil on canvas491x716cm the raft of the medusa was created by theodore gericault in the years 1818 and 1819 during the french romantic period. The medusa project the raft of the medusa the facts. See how napoleons defeat allowed one of the dumbest yet haughtiest ship captains ever known to pilot a vessel straight into a sandbar, with navigation provided not by his crew but instead a lowly passenger. Why the raft of the medusa is one of the most inspirational works. Other articles where the raft of the medusa is discussed. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The raft of the medusa 18181819 is an impressive oil painting that is 16 feet by 23 feet by french romantic master theodore gericault 17911824. Mutiny, starvation, murder and cannibalism decreased the 150 people to. This oil painting, which stands at a massive 491x716cm, was created to capture the tragedy of the medusa.
A novel based on historical fact, the raft of the medusa. Theodore gericault, the raft of the medusa daily art magazine. In 1819, people were outraged by the raft of the medusa s depiction of migrants abandoned at sea. The raft was below the waves with the weight of the first 50 aboard. The raft of the medusa theodore gericault 17911824 was the painter behind the raft of medusa, an 18181819 work of painting measuring 16 by 23 by 6 inches 716 by 491cm. This essay discusses what the raft of the medusa was, the reasons behind why theodore gericault made this painting and the. What elements or principles of art does the artist use in. This is a digitized version of an article from the timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. The vast work fills a wall in the louvre s denon wing, around the corner. The raft of medusa is a vivid painting that leaves the viewers memory seared by the evident pain and hopelessness displayed within its frame. A book launch for everything is relevant will take place on. Reviews favoured the painting, which also stimulated plays, poems, performances and a childrens book. The raft of the medusa painting by gericault britannica. Color is included in this artwork, having light and dark color to define the meaning of painting.
The shipwreck had scandalous political implications at homethe incompetent. When i began reading, i was confused as to what age this book would be best for, but as i continued to read i realized that even though it is a rather short story, the topics throughout the book, involving the complications of a. A taut, deeply powerful drama that drives home the reality of aids as a disease that we all must face. Gericault spent a long time preparing the composition of this painting, which he intended to exhibit at the salon of 1819. The wreck of the medusa is jonathan miless spellbinding account of the most famous. The pictorial composition of the painting is constructed upon two pyramidal structures. Anybody who enjoys stories of disaster at sea will enjoy this book. After hitting a sandbar, the french captain filled the limited lifeboats with officers, politicians, and others deemed worthy of rescue, and then ordered a raft. The raft of the medusa was created by theodore gericault in the years 1818 and 1819 during the french romantic period.
The raft of the medusa essay sample new york essays. According to the information on the historical background handout, the. The composition of the piece is also quite inspirational as this aspect of the raft. T he influence on the raft of the medusa can be seen both in the subject matter, which treats a contemporary subject, but also in the idealization of the boys form and the pyramidal composition. The perimeter of the large mast on the left of the canvas. Completed when the artist was 27, the work has become an icon of french romanticism. The painting depicts the wreck of a french government ship off the west african coast, and its passengers desperate struggle to survive. Captain parnajons report of 19 july 1816 to colonel julien schmaltz as cited in albert alhadeff, the raft of the medusa. The history the romantic era was strongly influenced by the french revolution near the turn of the 19th century. In order to escape the stricken vessel the ships boats were launched but were not enough to take everybody aboard.
The raft of the medusa meet your next favorite book. This essay discusses what the raft of the medusa was. This essay discusses what the raft of the medusa was, the reasons behind. Since its unveiling in 1819, this masterpiece has been both decried and admired for its unrelenting realism and for its unrelenting realism and. When most people look at the painting they can see a pyramid formed by the positioning of the figures on the raft. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, the times does. In the raft of medusa, gericault used some obvious and some less obvious design elements. The raft of the medusa a major work in french 19thcentury paintingis generally regarded as an icon of romanticism. It depicts an event whose human and political aspects greatly interested gericault. Theodore gericault the raft of the medusa 18181819. Raft of the medusa is fulllength drama by joe pintauro. Now the raft of the medusa hangs in the louvre in paris, the colossal canvas still a captivating visual experience with its unconventional composition and odd triumph of survival in its. Mckee has done an incredible job of assembling the facts of this story into a coherent tale.
The wreck of the medusa is a welltold tale of the crew and passengers of the illfated french frigate. The creepy story behind the epic painting the raft of medusa and the secrets of its composition my own artwork. The raft was also strewn with scraps of flesh, vivid testimony to the nourishment these men had been obliged to serve themselves. The painting depicts a moment of hope in the tragic saga of the medusa, a french royal naval ship that broke apart off the coast of west africa in 1816 while on a mission to retake senegal from the british after the napoleonic wars. The raft of medusa was undeniably, and in every way, exceptional. An art analysis of theodore gericaults romantic painting. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. Theodore geriaults raft of the medusa 1819, a short twenty or so pages highlighted. This masterful composition strongly influenced arts history and many of its representatives, inspiring them to. In his brilliant novel, a history of the world in 10 12 chapters, julian barnes writes of. Note there are twenty figures in the composition rather than the accurate number of fifteen.