Diomedes Devoured by His Horses 1865 - 1870

Gustave Moreau made this painting, Diomedes Devoured by His Horses, with oil paints on canvas. Moreau was a master of layering paint, creating an effect of shimmering, feverish intensity. You can see it in the muscular forms of the horses and the limp body of Diomedes, all heightened by the red pigment that seems to represent both flesh and blood. The texture is rough, built up from many strokes of the brush. This was a deliberate choice by Moreau, who was interested in evoking a sense of violence and chaos. The subject matter is a brutal scene from Greek mythology. Diomedes, a Thracian king, was known for feeding his horses human flesh. As punishment, Hercules fed Diomedes to his own horses. Moreau's choice of this gruesome story reflects a fascination with the dark side of human nature, and perhaps a comment on the bestial nature of the wealthy who profit from the suffering of others. Moreau challenges the traditional hierarchy between 'fine art' painting and other creative practices. He was interested in pushing the boundaries of what painting could be, both in terms of technique and subject matter.