King Candaules by Jean-Léon Gérôme

This dramatic composition of mythological inspiration is part of the trend of French academic history painting of the nineteenth century. The talented artist Gérôme Jean-Léon likes to draw from the stories of classical antiquity to stage moral and passionate dramas. The fascinating work entitled “King Candaules” illustrates the moment of betrayal when a sovereign reveals the intimacy of his wife to his indiscreet servant. This theatrical scene skillfully combines the classical nude with the refinement of history painting.

In the center of a vast royal bedroom with refined Greek decoration, a magnificent queen entirely naked stands from behind. She is about to climb onto a large canopy bed adorned with beautiful blue and golden draperies. On the left, her husband, King Candaules, is lying under a blue blanket and observes her in silence. On the right, hidden behind a heavy curtain and a half-open secret door, the young soldier Gyges watches the queen in secret. A splendid wild lion skin is stretched on the paved floor in the foreground, in front of an armchair where a bright red drapery rests.

The painter’s incomparable technique is fully expressed in the marmoreal whiteness of the queen’s body, which captures all the light in the room. His perfect mastery of oil painting gives life to the realism of the animal skin and the richness of the ancient ornaments. This work testifies to a great artistic expertise.