Oedipus and the Sphinx
1864
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
81 1/4 × 41 1/4 in. (206.4 × 104.8 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of William H. Herriman, 1920
Accession Number
21.134.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Gustave Moreau’s *Oedipus and the Sphinx* (1864) captures a pivotal moment from Greek mythology in luminous oil on canvas. The French Symbolist painter presents the young hero Oedipus standing before the enigmatic Sphinx, whose riddle will determine the fate of Thebes. Moreau’s elongated figures and jewel-like palette draw viewers into a dreamlike encounter that transcends mere narrative, inviting contemplation of destiny, knowledge, and the human condition. Created during the height of the Symbolist movement, the painting reflects Moreau’s desire to express inner truths through myth rather t...
About the Artist
Gustave Moreau
French painter, Paris. Comment on works: religious, mythology, history, allegory