Scene from the Last Act of Corneille’s Rodogune 1800

Anne-Louis Girodet’s 1800 drawing, *Scene from the Last Act of Corneille’s Rodogune*, depicts a dramatic moment from Pierre Corneille’s 1644 play. The sketch, executed in charcoal, captures the intensity of the scene as Rodogune, the queen of Armenia, confronting her son, with a cup of poison, forcing him to choose between his own life and the preservation of his kingdom. Girodet’s drawing skillfully captures the emotional tension of the play, a testament to his ability to translate the theatricality of the stage onto the page. This work showcases Girodet's early exploration of dramatic subjects, a theme that would later define his career.