Frame of the Week

• The Death of Sardanapalus painting was inspired by Lord Byron's play "Sardanapalus," which was based on the story of the Assyrian king who burned all his possessions and concubines before his death.

• Delacroix saw the play in Paris in 1827 and was immediately inspired to create the painting.

• This painting is often cited as a masterpiece of Romanticism as it encapsulates motifs such as nature, imagination, individualism, and emotion common in such paintings.

• Although highly controversial for its sensual portrayal of violence and luxury, it was praised for its innovative style and bold use of color, resulting in the Louvre purchasing it just a year after completion.

Fame of the Week

• This Chagall was sold at a Christie’s auction on April 4th for just over half a million Euros at their Impressionist and Modern auction.

• The painting's exuberant colors and lively composition reflect the artist's personal memories of the traveling circuses that he witnessed as a child in Belarus, and his interest in avant-garde artistic movements of the time.

• For more info on the auction, click here!

Find of the Week

• On Saturday, April 15th at 6pm, Richard Nam is opening his first exhibition, Terrible Lizards, with Praz-Delavallade.

• “Through scenic and portraiture gestures, Nam explores these ruling reptiles across both tranquil and apocalyptic landscape, some in motion and others anthropomorphized.” From praz-delavallade.com