Théodore Géricault
Théodore Géricault (1791-1824) was a French painter who has a strong influence on the development of Romantic art. His paintings are recognized by his flamboyant and dramatic style, always full of emotion. Géricault’s most famous work includes The Charging Chasseur (1812) – Fig. 2, The Raft of Medusa (1819) – Fig. 3, and a series of 10 portraits painted for the psychiatrist Étienne-Jean Georget, which includes Portrait of a Kleptomaniac (1822) – Fig. 4 and The Insane (1823) – Fig.5.
Fig. 2
The Charging Chasseur (1812)
Fig.3
The Raft of Medusa (1819)
His wide range of subjects drawn from contemporary life and his fusion of common subjects with his distinctly painterly style set him apart from other painters of his time. He sought inspiration from a variety of sources, ranging from grandiose to horrific. He found inspiration within the most common themes, such as real-life events like war and human emotion. His inspiration is also seen in his lithographs of London’s poor and his paintings of the criminally insane.
Fig.4
Portrait of a Kleptomaniac (1822)
Fig. 5
The Insane (1823)
Gericault’s artistic work was totally revolutionary due to its awareness of social events and the real representation of the human state. Géricault had a passion for horses and a sympathy for the weak and defenceless, all of which was represented in his work. This made him a distinctly intricate painter helped pave the path for later Romantic painters.
His work greatly influenced great painters that came after him, most notably Eugene Delacroix.
One reply on “Post 2 – Romanticism”
Anais,
Not bad work on Gericault! Your information is good but what I would prefer to see is more of your personal insights and feelings about the artist. That is really what I’m looking for in these posts.
Jeff