1761
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Gallery of Ireland
The Death of Milo of Croton is a 1761 oil by Jean-Jacques Bachelier, a Rococo painting work, held at National Gallery of Ireland.
The painting depicts a man, Milo of Croton, standing over a fallen animal, possibly a lion or a large dog. He is naked except for a leopard skin draped over his left shoulder and around his waist. His right arm is raised in triumph, and his left hand holds the animal's head. The background is a rocky, mountainous landscape. The man's facial expression is one of exhaustion and pain, suggesting that the struggle was intense. The animal appears to be lifeless, with its legs splayed out to the sides. The overall mood of the painting is one of drama and tension. This painting, "The Death of Milo of Croton," is a powerful example of the use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth.
Jean-Jacques Bachelier (1724–1806) was a French painter and director of the porcelain factory at Sèvres.
See the richer artist page
