The Raft of the Medusa | Théodore Géricault | 1819 17th Century completed in 1872

completed in 1872

in a room crowded with unsold paintings

Friedrich's interest in the Romantic movement is evident in his use of light and shadow

and will not discolour or fade with age

2 September to Thursday

The Raft of the Medusa | Théodore Géricault | 1819 17th Century completed in 1872Gricault chose to depict this event in order to launch his career with a large scale uncommissioned work on a subject that had already generated great public interest. The event fascinated him, and before he began work on the final painting, he undertook extensive research and produced many preparatory sketches. He interviewed two of the survivors and constructed a detailed scale model of the raft. He visited hospitals and morgues where he could view,