Portrait d’homme sur son lit de mort, autrefois dit Armand Carrel 1840

Paul Delaroche painted this portrait of a man on his deathbed sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The pale yellow of the subject’s face creates an immediate sense of unease. This color, combined with the stark white of the pillow, flattens the image, pushing it towards abstraction. The composition is dominated by diagonals; the subject's body lies at an angle, echoed by the lines of the pillowcase, creating a dynamic yet unsettling asymmetry. Delaroche, known for his academic history paintings, destabilizes the traditional portrait by presenting a raw, unidealized vision of death. The meticulous brushstrokes, while realistic, contribute to the starkness rather than softening the scene. This approach reflects a broader shift in 19th-century art towards realism and a fascination with mortality. Consider the way the formal elements—color, line, and composition—combine to evoke a powerful emotional response, challenging our expectations of beauty and representation.