The Death of Britannicus

ca. 1814

Not on view

This is the only known full composition study for Abel de Pujol’s first major success at the Salon, "The Death of Britannicus," for which he won a first-class medal in 1814. The painter drew upon the tragedy from Roman history as recounted by Jean Racine in 1669. At center, Agrippina strides forward pointing at her son Nero, accusing him of poisoning Britannicus, whose collapsed body appears highlighted in white on the left. The planar composition, strong light effects, and voluminous drapery enhance the theatricality of the scene.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: The Death of Britannicus
Artist: Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol (French, Valenciennes 1785–1861 Paris)
Date: ca. 1814
Medium: Pen and black ink, brush and brown wash, heightened with white gouache over graphite and red chalk
Dimensions: 14 x 20 3/4 in. (35.6 x 52.7 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bruno de Bayser, 2004
Object Number: 2004.318
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

St. Thomas the Apostle, for the Church of St. Vaast in Arras, Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol French, Graphite on beige paper — St. Thomas the Apostle, for the Church of St. Vaast in Arras
Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol
1832

John the Apostle, for the church of St. Vaast in Arras, Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol French, Graphite on tan paper — John the Apostle, for the church of St. Vaast in Arras
Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol
1832

Allegorical Figure of the City of Piacenza, for a Pendentive in the Chapel of Saint-Roch, Church of Saint-Sulpice, Paris (recto); Studies for the Same Figure (verso), Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol French, Graphite, heightened with white on beige paper; squared in graphite — Allegorical Figure of the City of Piacenza, for a Pendentive in the Chapel of Saint-Roch, Church of Saint-Sulpice, Paris (recto); Studies for the Same Figure (verso)
Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol
1821

The Lake of Zug, Joseph Mallord William Turner British, Watercolor and bodycolor (gouache) with reductive techniques over graphite — The Lake of Zug
Joseph Mallord William Turner
1843

The Connoisseur, Honoré Daumier French, Pen and ink, wash, watercolor, lithographic crayon, and gouache over black chalk on wove paper — The Connoisseur
Honoré Daumier
ca. 1860–65

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.