The Triumph of Alexander the Great 1892

Gustave Moreau painted "The Triumph of Alexander the Great" in France during the late 19th century. Moreau's painting places the ancient conqueror within a hazy, dreamlike space, a fantasy realm full of temples and mountains, and more than a hint of orientalism. In nineteenth-century France, history painting was a major genre at the École des Beaux-Arts, the most important art academy in the country. Rather than depicting a specific moment, Moreau chose to represent the idea of triumph, which is interesting in itself. Alexander, a figure from the ancient past, could be seen as a parallel to the contemporary rulers of Europe. His triumph can be seen as representing the colonial ambitions of the modern world, and France in particular. To understand this painting better, scholars look at the context of French academic painting and the country's imperial ambitions. Moreau's art suggests how painting, as an institution, could reflect upon society.