Copy painting & reproduction on canvas
Alexander and Bucephalus (Degas)

This youthful work by Edgar Degas is an ambitious foray into history painting, a genre highly valued at the Academy. It depicts the legendary episode where the young Alexander the Great manages to tame the fiery horse Bucephalus, which no one had been able to ride. The composition is classical, with Alexander at the center, draped in white, facing the rearing horse. Several figures watch the scene, creating dramatic tension. The background landscape, with its hills and cloudy sky, anchors the scene in an ancient setting. Although Degas is best known for his impressionist works, this painting reveals his solid classical training and his ability to handle complex compositions with multiple figures. The color palette is sober, dominated by earth tones, with the blue and red of the draperies being typical of the academic style.