Oedipus and The Sphinx
1864
Gustave Moreau brings the deadly Greek myth to life with intense, almost eerie intimacy. Here, Oedipus stands calmly on a rocky ledge, staring down the monstrous Sphinx—a creature with a woman's face, bird's wings, and a lion's body—who clings to him possessively. Below their feet, the scattered bones of previous victims who failed her riddle serve as a grim warning. This 1864 masterpiece launched Moreau's career and perfectly captures the Symbolist movement's love for mysterious, dreamlike mythology. The Sphinx is about to ask her famous riddle, but Oedipus's steady gaze suggests he already knows the answer: 'Man.'
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
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