The Death of Caesar
1859-1867
Jean-Léon Gérôme flips the script on the most famous assassination in history by showing us the awkward, chaotic aftermath rather than the stabbing itself. In this dramatic Academic masterpiece, the conspirators are already fleeing the scene with their swords still raised, leaving Julius Caesar's crumpled body alone on the floor in the foreground. The overturned chair and scattered papers tell the whole story of the sudden violence that ended the Roman Republic. Gérôme was obsessed with historical accuracy and theatrical lighting, making the empty Senate hall feel incredibly tense and silent.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: Walters Art Museum
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