The Leap of Marcus Curtius (1850-1855)

"The Leap of Marcus Curtius" (1850-1855) is a work by Jean-Léon Gérôme. Historical background, 1850-1855: The first half of the nineteenth century moved from Neoclassicism to Romanticism, which placed emotion, nature, and the sublime at the centre of painting. The invention of lithography around 1796 and its spread in these decades made printed images cheaper and more varied. The catalogue places it in Mythology. The format is landscape. Mythology, a short history: Artists from the Renaissance to the Symbolists returned to myth to explore love, power, fate, and transformation. In European academies, history and mythological subjects ranked highest among painting genres, so they often appear on a large scale and with ambitious compositions.

On onlly.art "The Leap of Marcus Curtius" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks.

French, 1824–1904

If you like the visual language of Jean-Léon Gérôme, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.