The artwork titled “Dead poet borne by centaur,” created by Gustave Moreau around the year 1890, employs gouache and watercolor on paper. Reflective of the Symbolism movement, this mythological painting is housed in the Musée National Gustave Moreau in Paris, France.
The artwork depicts a poignant and ethereal scene where a lifeless poet is transported by a centaur. The centaur, a mythical creature with the torso of a man and the body of a horse, tenderly supports the delicate form of the deceased poet. The poet, adorned with a laurel wreath symbolizing poetic or artistic accomplishment, is draped in a green cloth, blending with the natural elements of the surroundings. The deep, rich colors and detailed brushstrokes demonstrate Moreau’s adeptness in combining mythological themes with a dreamlike, almost surreal quality. This piece evokes a sense of transcendence and melancholy, characteristic of Moreau’s Symbolist approach. The backdrop features a vividly colored landscape bathed in the hues of a setting sun, further heightening the mystical and emotive atmosphere of the composition.
