The Burning of Sodom (formerly "The Destruction of Sodom")
The Met
Artist: Camille Corot(French, Paris 1796–1875 Paris)
Date: 1843 and 1857
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 36 3/8 x 71 3/8 in. (92.4 x 181.3 cm)
Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Four figures in a dark landscape, a city with orange light on the horizon, cloudy sky
Detailed Description
This horizontal oil painting depicts a dark landscape under a cloudy sky. The upper portion of the canvas is dominated by heavy, dark clouds, with a striking band of orange and yellow light visible on the horizon. Silhouetted against this orange and yellow light in the far background is a city with blocky, indistinct structures. In the midground, a low, light-colored stone structure, possibly a wall or tomb, runs horizontally across the scene, slightly to the right of center. To the far right, a dark, bare tree trunk with sparse branches stands. In the foreground, four figures are prominent. On the far left, a figure in a light-colored, flowing dress, barefoot, extends their left arm forward as they look towards the right. Next to this figure, a bearded figure in dark robes holds the hand of another figure beside them; the bearded figure looks down and to the right. This second figure, also in dark robes, has their face obscured and appears to lean into the bearded figure, carrying a bundle on their back. To their right, another barefoot figure in a dark dress with a red sash moves towards the right, looking back over their left shoulder. This figure carries a large, light-colored object, possibly a head or mask, in their arms. On the far right, a solitary, dark-robed figure stands with their back to the viewer, looking towards the distant city with orange and yellow light. The ground is uneven, dark earth with sparse vegetation and some rocks. The overall palette is dark, dominated by browns, grays, and deep greens, with the orange-yellow glow in the sky providing a stark contrast.
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