Who created "Sphinx in a Grotto (Poet, King and Warrior)"?

Sphinx in a Grotto (Poet, King and Warrior) was created by Gustave Moreau in 1887–1888.

When was "Sphinx in a Grotto (Poet, King and Warrior)" created?

This artwork was created 1887–1888.

What medium is "Sphinx in a Grotto (Poet, King and Warrior)"?

Sphinx in a Grotto (Poet, King and Warrior) is Watercolor and gouache on paper, varnished.

Is "Sphinx in a Grotto (Poet, King and Warrior)" in the public domain?

Yes, Sphinx in a Grotto (Poet, King and Warrior) is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Sphinx in a Grotto (Poet, King and Warrior)

Gustave Moreau

1887–1888

Medium

Watercolor and gouache on paper, varnished

Dimensions

12 3/8 x 16 3/8 in. (31.4 x 41.6 cm)

Classification

Drawings

Department

Drawings and Prints

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Bequest of Miss Adelaide Milton de Groot (1876-1967), 1967

Accession Number

67.187.30

Tags

KingsFemale NudesSphinxPoets

Art Historical Context

In the enchanting *Sphinx in a Grotto (Poet, King and Warrior)*, created by French Symbolist artist Gustave Moreau between 1887 and 1888, visitors encounter a mystical vision of seduction and enigma. The composition features a voluptuous female Sphinx amid a shadowy grotto, surrounded by enthralled figures—a poet, a king, and a warrior—evoking ancient myths like the Oedipus legend. Moreau, a master of late 19th-century Symbolism, drew from literary and biblical sources to explore themes of desire, fate, and the exotic, blending Orientalist fantasy with dreamlike introspection. This watercolor...

About the Artist

Gustave Moreau

French painter, Paris. Comment on works: religious, mythology, history, allegory

Sphinx in a Grotto (Poet, King and Warrior)

Send Feedback