Rome in Flames

Gustave Doré created this painting based on an event in Roman history. In 64 A.D. a six-day fire raged through the city of Rome. A group of Romans tries to flee using the underground sewage system. As a typical Romantic Doré was mainly interested in adequately representing the characters’ emotional reactions. Feelings of dismay about the events and sadness about…

Gustave Doré created this painting based on an event in Roman history. In 64 A.D. a six-day fire raged through the city of Rome. A group of Romans tries to flee using the underground sewage system. As a typical Romantic Doré was mainly interested in adequately representing the characters’ emotional reactions. Feelings of dismay about the events and sadness about what they have lost and have abandoned dominate this painting. Other characteristic Romantic touches include the rapid, fluid brush strokes and the absence of detail. This has often led to critics reproaching Doré that his work is unfinished.