The artwork titled “The Road to Jerusalem” was created by Gustave Doré in 1877. Executed in lithography, this illustration falls under the Romanticism art movement and is part of the “Bibliothèque des Croisades” series. Currently held in a private collection, the artwork illustrates a scene with significant historical and religious implications.
In the artwork, a luminous angel hovers above, guiding a large procession of Crusaders marching at night. The angel, radiant with ethereal light and possessing large, outstretched wings, holds a banner and a flag, symbolizing divine guidance and inspiration. Below, a multitude of Crusaders, depicted with detailed armor and expressions of determination and reverence, follow the celestial being through the dark, illuminated landscape. The composition emphasizes the solemn and majestic nature of the Crusades, underscored by the dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, which Doré masterfully employs to convey a sense of divine intervention and purpose.
