Study to the Painting ‘Christian Dirce’ 1897

This is a study for Henryk Siemiradzki’s famous painting *Christian Dirce*. Completed in 1897, it depicts the aftermath of the death of Dirce, a woman being punished for her evil deeds by being tied to the horns of a bull. Siemiradzki, a Polish painter, is known for his historically accurate and detailed paintings. The study, with its loose and gestural brushwork, highlights the rapid and dynamic movement of the scene, foreshadowing the drama of the final painting. The work illustrates the evolution of Siemiradzki’s artistic process and offers a glimpse into his artistic vision.