Alexander the Great on his Sickbed
1806
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
1806
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This painting shows a dimly lit room with four people. An older man in a yellowish robe sits on the left, reading from a small book. A woman in a white dress lies on a red cushion, holding a cup. Two men stand near her—one shirtless, the other in a draped cloth. A mirror and a small table with a jug are in the background. The woman’s pale face and the men’s tense postures suggest she’s unwell. The dark background makes the figures stand out, creating a dramatic mood. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works.
