The artwork, titled “The Barque of Dante (Copy after Delacroix),” was created by Edouard Manet in 1854 in Paris, France. This piece, executed in oil on canvas, adheres to the Realism art movement. Measuring 38.1 by 45.7 centimeters, this literary painting is currently housed at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon in Lyon, France.
The artwork depicts a dramatic and tumultuous scene inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy.” Characterized by dark, moody tones and dynamic composition, the central figures, Dante and Virgil, are portrayed standing in a small boat amidst turbulent waters populated by tormented souls. The intense expressions and contorted forms of the figures convey a sense of despair and struggle, effectively capturing the literary and emotional depth of the source material. The atmospheric sky, with its brooding colors, further accentuates the perilous and somber mood of the scene. Manet’s attention to detail and masterful manipulation of light and shadow demonstrate the influence of Realism while paying homage to Delacroix’s earlier interpretation of the same subject.
