writings

An Investigation of Théodore Géricault’s The Raft of the Medusa: Catastrophe as art

Project: Making a Transcription

In June 1816, the Medusa, flagship of a French expedition to repossess the colony of Senegal from the British, set sail but ran aground off the desolate West African Coast. The evacuation of the frigate was chaotic and cowardly - 146 men and one woman were herded aboard a makeshift raft which was then abandoned in mid-ocean. Crazed, parched and starving, the diminishing band slaughtered mutineers, ate their dead companions and organized a tactical extermination of the weakest among them. After two weeks at sea, only 15 survivors remained when they were finally rescued. Among them were two men whose written account of the tragedy catalogued the trail of government incompetence, indifference, and cover-up. Their book became a bestseller which rocked Europe and inspired the promising artist Theodore Gericault to paint one of the great masterpieces of 19th century European art.

In order to better understand Géricault’s complex composition and working process, two volunteers, one each, from IB Viaual Art Yr 1 & 2 will study this masterwork and help to produce a large-scale painted study or “transcription” of the work. We will examine the cultural and historical context for the work, the artist, his influences, and his intentions, the compositional structure and its evolution, preparatory drawings and paintings, and color theory. This project will take a minimum of nine weeks and will involve out of class studio time, readings, and intensive study of drawing and painting technique. The transcription will be drawn in graphite and then painted in acrylics.

The Raft of the Medusa Transcription:

Fall 2009 Images of the Process & study

The transcription remains a work in progress. It now resides in France in care of The Les Tapies Arts & Architecture Program, where each summer, student volunteers continue to add their own contributions to its vast and complicated composition…

On a recent visit to Paris, I paid my respects to the great painter, who is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery. His funerary portrait in bronze is striking, a very good likeness, when compared to his painted self-portrait. His friend and model, Delacroix is buried there too.