After - Gustave Moreau
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A detailed 1866 drawing by Gustave Moreau featuring a mythological figure mounted on a hybrid creature.
Gustave Moreau, a central figure in the French Symbolist movement, produced this work in 1866. The image depicts a figure mounted upon a hybrid creature, blending avian and serpentine characteristics. The composition draws heavily from the artist's fascination with mythological themes and archaic iconography. Moreau often populated his works with figures derived from classical antiquity, yet he reinterpreted these subjects through a personal, dreamlike lens.
The central figure sits atop the creature with a sense of detachment, holding a small sprig. The creature itself possesses large, feathered wings and a long, coiled tail, suggesting a chimera or a similar beast from ancient lore. The background remains sparse, allowing the focus to rest entirely on the central subject. Two stars appear above the figure, adding a celestial or cosmic dimension to the scene. The line work is precise and controlled, reflecting the artist's academic training and his meticulous approach to drawing.
Moreau's work often avoids direct narrative clarity, preferring instead to evoke a mood of mystery. This piece demonstrates his ability to combine disparate elements into a cohesive, if enigmatic, whole. The texture of the paper and the application of the medium suggest a study or a finished drawing intended for private contemplation. By isolating the figure against a neutral field, Moreau directs the viewer to examine the details of the costume, the anatomy of the beast, and the symbolic weight of the stars. This print captures the precision of the original drawing, preserving the fine lines and the atmospheric quality of the composition. It represents a specific moment in Moreau's career when he moved away from traditional historical subjects toward the more personal, imaginative visions that defined his later output.
You might also like
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
After - Gustave Moreau
Artist Biography
Gustave Moreau
He was born in Paris in 1826, a sickly, solitary child who drew compulsively. He trained at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and fell under the influence of Theodore Chasseriau, an eclectic painter whose depictions of enigmatic sea goddesses left a permanent mark. Chasseriau's death in 1856 shook Moreau badly enough to send him to Italy for two years, where he copied Mantegna, Carpaccio and the Venetians, filling notebooks with studies that fed his work for decades.
His breakthrough came at the 1864 Salon with Oedipus and the Sphinx, a painting that fused classical mythology with a strange, jewelled intensity that critics struggled to categorise. He became the foremost Symbolist painter, working in a style guided by what has been called Neo-Platonist faith: a belief that the physical world was imperfect and that art could capture something closer to divine vision. He never married, regarding the career of an artist as "a true priesthood", though he maintained a discreet relationship with Alexandrine Dureux for decades, subsidising an apartment for her near his family home.
As a teacher at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Moreau proved unexpectedly open-minded. His students included Henri Matisse and Georges Rouault, both of whom credited his insistence on personal expression over academic formula. Andre Breton and Salvador Dali later claimed his Symbolist imagery as a direct precursor to Surrealism.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
Fast Shipping
Museum-Quality Materials
You May Also Like