Andrócles
circa 1902
Jean-Léon Gérôme captures the tense but tender moment from the classic fable where a runaway slave named Androcles removes a thorn from a lion's paw. The lion is mid-roar, looking terrifying with its mouth wide open, but the man is calmly focused on the bloody injury, wearing a simple blue tunic. This act of kindness saves Androcles later when they meet in the gladiator arena—the lion recognizes him and refuses to attack! Gérôme was famous for his hyper-realistic historical scenes, but here the loose, dark brushwork gives the cave setting a raw, emotional energy.
- Technique
- Oil paint
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