Phèdre 1880

"Phèdre" (1880), by Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889), depicts the titular character, Phèdre, the wife of Theseus, lying in bed, draped in a white sheet, with a maid by her side. The scene is set in a lavish bedroom, with intricate details on the furniture and walls, evoking a sense of royal luxury and Greek mythology. The painting captures the tragedy of Phèdre's forbidden love for her stepson, Hippolytus, and her subsequent despair. Cabanel, a renowned artist of the 19th century, is known for his mastery of realism and meticulous detail, which brings a dramatic intensity to this emotional narrative.