1895
oil
canvas
From the collection of Ashmolean Museum
Prometheus is a 1895 oil by Briton Rivière, a Post-Impressionism work, held at Ashmolean Museum.
This painting depicts a nude man chained to a rocky cliff, with his arms outstretched and his head tilted back. He appears to be in a state of anguish or torment. The background is a hazy, grayish-brown color, which adds to the overall sense of desolation and despair. The man's body is rendered in a realistic style, with attention to detail in the muscles and contours of his physique. The chains that bind him are thick and heavy-looking, emphasizing his helplessness. The painting's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume, drawing the viewer's eye to the central figure. If you're interested in learning more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up the technique.
Briton Rivière (14 August 1840 – 20 April 1920) was a British artist of Huguenot descent. He exhibited a variety of paintings at the Royal Academy, but devoted much of his life to animal paintings.
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