Moreau defined painting as “this language of symbol, myth and sign”, and this is his greatest expression of that.
myth
Moreau is often claimed as a ‘father of Symbolism’, or even a Symbolist. A detailed look at his first great success at the Salon: is it regular narrative or symbolist?
His last chance to establish ‘modern’ history painting, with the Napoleonic Wars and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson.
With ‘modern history paintings’ long behind him, he turned to literary subjects and classical histories once more.
He took a break from ‘modern history’ painting in the 1780s, making religious works and even some landscapes, including some unknown gems.
During this period spent mainly in Florence, he learned from the innovations of Leonardo da Vinci, who was there at the same time. Raphael’s own style emerges.
Includes his record of William Penn making his treaty with the Lenape, a strange family portrait, and an obscure naval battle.
Some of his earliest independent paintings, including two wonderful pairs based on legend and contemporary literature.
A Pennsylvanian, he wanted to be a great history painter. When returning from a visit to Italy, he stopped off in London, and stayed there almost 60 years.
Bad girls whose beautiful voices lured sailors to their deaths, so that the women could eat them. Paintings by Etty, Moreau, Waterhouse, Rae, Nash and others.
