The Death of Hippolytus 1600

Nicolas Poussin rendered 'The Death of Hippolytus' using brown wash and heightened white in the 17th century, a period marked by the Baroque style's dramatic flair and the classical revival’s emphasis on order and reason. Poussin, a Frenchman living in Rome, steeped himself in classical antiquity. This drawing captures a moment of high drama from Greek mythology: Hippolytus, son of Theseus, dies after being dragged by horses. He was punished by the gods because of his perceived slight against Aphrodite. What strikes me about Poussin's work is how he navigates the complexities of desire, power, and morality. The death of Hippolytus speaks volumes about the precariousness of virtue and the inescapable reach of divine retribution. In the end, this scene isn't just a depiction of death; it's a meditation on human fallibility and the high price of defying societal expectations.