A Roman holiday
1891
oil
From the collection of National Gallery of Victoria
1891
oil
From the collection of National Gallery of Victoria
A Roman holiday is a 1891 oil by Briton Rivière, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Victoria.
This painting depicts a dramatic scene with a man lying on the ground, surrounded by two tigers. The man is shirtless and wearing a loincloth, with his head resting on his arm. One tiger lies next to him, while the other stands in the background, its mouth open as if roaring. The setting appears to be a sandy arena or amphitheater, with a stone wall visible in the background. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of tension and drama, with the man seemingly at the mercy of the tigers. The use of chiaroscuro in the painting adds depth and contrast to the scene, highlighting the textures of the sand and the tigers' fur. If you're interested in learning more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, you can explore the technique further.
