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oil paint (paint)38 × 41 Cm
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About the artwork
Artist supplied description.
Théodore Géricault painted this macabre image directly from life. The artist is known to have acquired corpses from his local morgue to study anatomy and the effects of decomposition. Surrounding himself with the stench of decay, he produced several paintings of decapitated heads and severed limbs. By depicting this graying and lifeless head upon on a blood-stained cloth laid over a wooden table, Géricault also referenced—perhaps ironically—the long history of still-life painting in Western art. The head probably belonged to a convicted criminal. At that time in France, executions were carried out by the guillotine, a bladed device that sliced through the necks of its victims.
Artwork metadata
Structured fields synced from connected systems.
| Medium | oil paint (paint) |
| Dimensions | 38 × 41 Cm |
| Tags | headblack (color)blooddeathFranceFrenchmanstudy |
| Certificate | Certificate not provided |
Timeline
Chain of custody, exhibitions, and verification milestones synced from the provenance service.
Sat
22
Nov
note
The artist’s estate sale, Hôtel de Buillion, November 2-3, 1824 [possibly no....
The artist’s estate sale, Hôtel de Buillion, November 2-3, 1824 [possibly no. 17, “Dix études de diverses parties du corps humain” or handwritten addition to a copy of the catalogue in the British Museum, “trois têtes de guillotinés peints peu de temps après...270 (frs.)”
Sat
22
Nov
note
by descent to his niece Jacqueline Dubaut- Bellonte, Paris
by descent to his niece Jacqueline Dubaut- Bellonte, Paris
Sat
22
Nov
exhibition
Clermont-Ferrand, France, Musée d'art Roger-Quillot, Géricault. Original studies for the Raft of the Medusa: the crystallization of a Romantic Masterpiece, May 30-September 3, 2012.
Clermont-Ferrand, France, Musée d'art Roger-Quillot, Géricault. Original studies for the Raft of the Medusa: the crystallization of a Romantic Masterpiece, May 30-September 3, 2012.
Sat
22
Nov
note
Lorenz Eitner, “The Sale of Géricault’s Studio in 1824,” Gazette des Beaux-Arts 6th period, 53
Lorenz Eitner, “The Sale of Géricault’s Studio in 1824,” Gazette des Beaux-Arts 6th period, 53 (1959), pp. 119, 125, n. 20.
Sat
22
Nov
note
see Eitner 1959]....
see Eitner 1959]. The painter Auguste Boulard (died 1897), Paris
Sat
22
Nov
note
Lorenz Eitner, “Géricault at Winterthur,” Burlington Magazine 96
Lorenz Eitner, “Géricault at Winterthur,” Burlington Magazine 96 (1954), p. 258.
Sat
22
Nov
note
Lorenz Eitner, “Géricault at Winterthur,” Burlington Magazine XCVI
Lorenz Eitner, “Géricault at Winterthur,” Burlington Magazine XCVI (1954): 258.
Sat
22
Nov
exhibition
Winterthur, Kunstmuseum, Théodore Géricault, 1953, cat. 81.
Winterthur, Kunstmuseum, Théodore Géricault, 1953, cat. 81.
Sat
22
Nov
exhibition
London, Marlborough Fine Art, Ltd., Théodore Géricault 1791–1824, 1952, cat. 24.
London, Marlborough Fine Art, Ltd., Théodore Géricault 1791–1824, 1952, cat. 24.
Sat
22
Nov
exhibition
Paris, Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Exposition Géricault: Peintre et dessinateur, 1791-1824, 1937, cat. 43.
Paris, Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Exposition Géricault: Peintre et dessinateur, 1791-1824, 1937, cat. 43.
Sat
22
Nov
exhibition
Paris, Petit Palais, Gros. Ses Amis et ses élèves, 1936, cat. 842.
Paris, Petit Palais, Gros. Ses Amis et ses élèves, 1936, cat. 842.
Sat
22
Nov
exhibition
Paris, Hôtel Jean Charpentier, Exposition d'Oeuvres de Géricault, (Centenary), 1924, cat. 132.
Paris, Hôtel Jean Charpentier, Exposition d'Oeuvres de Géricault, (Centenary), 1924, cat. 132.
Sat
22
Nov
note
Dubaut may have acquired it directly from the Duc de Trévise, since they were co-authors of Paris 1924 and Dubaut was the author of Paris 1937]
Dubaut may have acquired it directly from the Duc de Trévise, since they were co-authors of Paris 1924 and Dubaut was the author of Paris 1937]
Sat
22
Nov
note
his estate sale, Pairs, Hôtel Drouot, April 9–10, 1900, no....
his estate sale, Pairs, Hôtel Drouot, April 9–10, 1900, no. 130. Édouard Napoléon César Edmond Mortier, duc de Trévise (died 1946), Paris, from at least 1924 until at least 1937 [lent by to Paris 1924 and Paris 1937]. Pierre Dubaut (died 1968) by 1952 [lent by him to London, 1952 and later exhibitions
Sun
22
Nov
note
Lorenz Eitner, review of Germain Bazin, Théodore Géricault: Étude critique, documents, et catalogue raisonné in Burlington Magazine 140
Lorenz Eitner, review of Germain Bazin, Théodore Géricault: Étude critique, documents, et catalogue raisonné in Burlington Magazine 140 (1998), pp. 761–63, n. 6.
Tue
22
Nov
note
Germain Bazin, Théodore Géricault. Etude critique, documents et catalogue raisonné, vol. 6, Paris, 1994, pp. 38-39, no. 2060, ill.
Germain Bazin, Théodore Géricault. Etude critique, documents et catalogue raisonné, vol. 6, Paris, 1994, pp. 38-39, no. 2060, ill.
Tue
22
Nov
note
Linda Nochlin, The Body in Pieces. The Fragment as a Metaphor for Modernity, London and New York, 1994, pp. 19–22, fig. 15.
Linda Nochlin, The Body in Pieces. The Fragment as a Metaphor for Modernity, London and New York, 1994, pp. 19–22, fig. 15.
Sun
22
Nov
note
Nina Athanassoglou-Kallmyer, “Géricault’s Severed Heads and Limbs: The Politics and Aesthetics of the Scaffold” Art Bulletin 74
Nina Athanassoglou-Kallmyer, “Géricault’s Severed Heads and Limbs: The Politics and Aesthetics of the Scaffold” Art Bulletin 74 (1992), no. 4, pp. 599–604, 609–18, fig. 5.
Sun
22
Nov
note
purchased by the Art Institute through her gallery, Galerie du Fleuve, 1992.
purchased by the Art Institute through her gallery, Galerie du Fleuve, 1992.
Fri
22
Nov
exhibition
Paris, Grand Palais, Géricault, 1991-1992, cat. 180.
Paris, Grand Palais, Géricault, 1991-1992, cat. 180.
Fri
22
Nov
note
Michel Schneider,Un rêve de pierre: le Radeau de la Médusa, Géricault. Paris, 1991, p. 105, no. 105, ill.
Michel Schneider,Un rêve de pierre: le Radeau de la Médusa, Géricault. Paris, 1991, p. 105, no. 105, ill.
Fri
22
Nov
note
Luc de Nanteuil, "Géricault. L'Homme et l'oeuvre," Conaissances des Arts
Luc de Nanteuil, "Géricault. L'Homme et l'oeuvre," Conaissances des Arts (1991), p. 44, fig. 49.
Wed
22
Nov
exhibition
San Francisco, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Géricault 1791–1824, 1989, cat. 43.
San Francisco, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Géricault 1791–1824, 1989, cat. 43.
Sun
22
Nov
exhibition
New York, Salander-O’Reilly Galleries, Inc., New York, Théodore Géricault: An Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings, Watercolors, Prints and Sculpture, 1987, Addendum to catalogue between cat. 26 and 27.
New York, Salander-O’Reilly Galleries, Inc., New York, Théodore Géricault: An Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings, Watercolors, Prints and Sculpture, 1987, Addendum to catalogue between cat. 26 and 27.
Tue
22
Nov
note
Lorenz Eitner, Géricault: His Life and Work. London, 1983, p. 181, fig. 170, 183, 345, n. 133, rev. ed. Milan, 1991, pp. 113–114, no. 175, ill.
Lorenz Eitner, Géricault: His Life and Work. London, 1983, p. 181, fig. 170, 183, 345, n. 133, rev. ed. Milan, 1991, pp. 113–114, no. 175, ill.
Wed
22
Nov
note
Phillippe Grunchec, Tout l’oeuvre peint de Géricault. Paris, 1978, p. 114, no. 175, pl. 38.
Phillippe Grunchec, Tout l’oeuvre peint de Géricault. Paris, 1978, p. 114, no. 175, pl. 38.
Wed
22
Nov
note
Lorenz Eitner, Géricault’s The Raft of Medusa, London, 1972, pp. 167-168, no. 89, pl. 88.
Lorenz Eitner, Géricault’s The Raft of Medusa, London, 1972, pp. 167-168, no. 89, pl. 88.
Mon
22
Nov
exhibition
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Géricault, 1971-72, cat. 90.
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Géricault, 1971-72, cat. 90.
Mon
22
Nov
note
Jacques Fischer, “Géricault in French private collections,” Connoisseur 58, no. 635
Jacques Fischer, “Géricault in French private collections,” Connoisseur 58, no. 635 (1965), p. 52.
Sun
22
Nov
exhibition
Paris, Galerie Claude Aubry, Géricault dans les collections privées françaises, 1964, cat. 25.
Paris, Galerie Claude Aubry, Géricault dans les collections privées françaises, 1964, cat. 25.
Fri
22
Nov
note
Antonio del Guercio, Géricault, Milan, 1963, p. 148, pl. 65.
Antonio del Guercio, Géricault, Milan, 1963, p. 148, pl. 65.
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