Morbid Anatomy: Théodore Géricault's Morgue-Based Preparatory Paintings for "Raft of the Medusa," A Guest Post by Paul Koudounaris
New article on Morbid Anatomy guest-authored by Paul Koudounaris (author of The Empire of Death, which I finally got my hands on this week) about Théodore Géricault’s preparatory studies for his most famous painting:
At the time, there were programs in local morgues to lend human remains to art students for anatomical study—something like a lending library of body parts. Géricault would take them home to study them as they went through states of decomposition. He was known to stash various heads, arms, and legs under his bed—or alternately store them on his roof—so he could continue to render them in increasingly putrid states and in various angles.
- February 20 2012 | 30 Notes - Read More →
