The Punishment of Niobe 1822 - 1828

"The Punishment of Niobe" is a black chalk drawing by Merry Joseph Blondel, a French artist of the 19th century, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This drawing depicts the grief-stricken Niobe, a queen from Greek Mythology, cradling one of her deceased children. This scene, rendered in detail, is a powerful example of Neoclassical art's focus on classical themes and the use of meticulous detail in capturing the human form and emotions.