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Death of Sardanapalus

Eugene Delacroix, Death of Sardanapalus, 1827. Oil on canvas, 12' 1 1/2" x 16' 2 7/8". Musee du Lourve, Paris

At first glance "Death of Sardanapalus" appeared to be groups of individuals performing a variety of sexual acts as entertainment for the crown man sitting on the bed.

According to, the text Death of Sardanapalus is perhaps the greatest Romantic pictorial drama ever painted. In fact, the painting is of a King on his death bed watching as his prize possessions are being destroyed- his women, slaves, and animals, as his enemies have just broken down the doors to his kingdom. The darkness in the background is the dust from his kingdom walls collapsing.

After a closer glance, I notice that foreshortening was used by placing the exotic figures at different angles to the picture plane; making it appear as though one part of the body is further away than another. Tenebrim, which simply means "shadowy" also seems to be present. The background is almost completely blacked out. Also, the richness of the red creates a dramatic sense of emotion.

Kleiner, F. S. (2014). Gardner’s art through the ages: The western perspective (14th ed., Vol. II). Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Delacroix, E. (1827). "Death of Sardanapalus"[Oil on canvas; 12' 1 1/2" x 16' 2 7/8"]. Musee du Louvre, Paris. In . S. Kleiner (Ed.), Gardner’s art through the ages: The Western perspective (14th ed., Vol. II, p. 655) Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

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