Death on the Pale Horse (1796) by Benjamin West

Death on the Pale Horse - Benjamin West - 1796

Artwork Information

TitleDeath on the Pale Horse
ArtistBenjamin West
Date1796
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions59.5 x 128.5 cm
Art MovementNeoclassicism
Current LocationDetroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI, US

About Death on the Pale Horse

The artwork, titled “Death on the Pale Horse,” was created by Benjamin West in 1796 using oil on canvas. This piece belongs to the Neoclassicism art movement and is categorized under the genre of religious painting. The dimensions of the artwork are 59.5 x 128.5 cm, and it is currently housed at the Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit, Michigan, United States.

The artwork depicts a dramatic and tumultuous scene likely drawn from biblical or apocalyptic sources, invoking the potent imagery associated with the end times. Central to the piece is a figure on a pale horse, symbolizing death, surrounded by a chaotic melee of writhing bodies and ethereal figures. The contrast between light and dark tones, as well as the dynamic composition, emphasizes the intensity and fervor of the moment captured. The use of vivid detail and powerful imagery exemplifies West’s skill in conveying profound and unsettling themes through his masterful brushwork and adherence to the principles of Neoclassicism.

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