
Romantic painter Théodore Géricault (1791-1824) created one of art history's most powerful images of human suffering before dying at 32. Born in Rouen to a wealthy family, he trained under Carle Vernet and Pierre-Narcisse Guérin before developing an intensely physical style influenced by Rubens and Michelangelo. His early paintings of cavalry officers captured Napoleonic military spirit with dramatic energy.
The Raft of the Medusa (1818-19) scandalized the Paris Salon with its harrowing depiction of survivors from a contemporary shipwreck. Géricault researched obsessively, interviewing survivors, studying corpses, and building a scale model of the raft. The painting criticized government incompetence that caused the disaster. Disappointed by its French reception, he exhibited it successfully in London. His final works included haunting portraits of asylum patients. A riding accident led to his early death. The Louvre holds The Raft of the Medusa and major works. The Harvard Art Museums preserve important preparatory studies for his masterpiece.
19 paintings catalogued with museum locations

Théodore Géricault
Louvre, Paris, Paris

Théodore Géricault
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid, Madrid

Théodore Géricault
Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, Lille, Lille

Théodore Géricault
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Rouen, Rouen

Théodore Géricault
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Rouen, Rouen

Théodore Géricault
Private Collection, Unknown

Théodore Géricault
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Rouen, Rouen

Théodore Géricault
Musée Condé, Chantilly, Chantilly

Théodore Géricault
Private Collection, Unknown

Théodore Géricault
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Rouen, Rouen

Théodore Géricault
Louvre, Paris, Paris

Théodore Géricault
Louvre, Paris, Paris

Théodore Géricault
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Rouen, Rouen

Théodore Géricault
Musée Magnin, Dijon, Dijon

Théodore Géricault
Louvre, Paris, Paris

Théodore Géricault
Musée Bonnat-Helleu, Bayonne

Théodore Géricault
Louvre, Paris, Paris

Théodore Géricault, 1819
Louvre, Paris, Paris

Théodore Géricault, 1812
Louvre, Paris, Paris
8 museums display Géricault's works. Click any museum to see visiting info and the specific works they hold.


Unknown, Unknown
2 works on display



Paris, France
7 works on display

Madrid, Spain
1 work on display

Lille, France
1 work on display

Bayonne, France
1 work on display

Chantilly, France
1 work on display



Rouen, France
5 works on display

Dijon, France
1 work on display
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