Virgil's Tomb by Moonlight, with Silius Italicus Declaiming
The Met
Artist: Joseph Wright (Wright of Derby)(British, Derby 1734–1797 Derby)
Date: 1779
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 40 x 50 in. (101.6 x 127 cm)
Credit Line: Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, Gifts of Mrs. William M. Haupt, Josephine Bay Paul, and Estate of George Quackenbush, in his memory, by exchange, The Morris and Alma Schapiro Fund Gift, and funds from various donors, 2013
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Moonlit landscape with a figure in a glowing cave, rocky ruins, and trees
Detailed Description
A nocturnal landscape is depicted under a cloudy, moonlit sky. In the upper center, a bright, full moon is partially obscured by large, billowy clouds, casting a soft, cool light over the scene. The sky transitions from lighter tones around the moon to darker grays and browns towards the edges. On the left, a large, dark, rocky formation rises, topped with dense green trees. Below this, a structure of weathered stone or ruins forms a prominent feature. In the lower-left quadrant, an arched cave opening glows with a warm, orange-yellow light. Inside, a solitary figure, dressed in dark robes, is seated, facing downwards. The light from the cave illuminates the immediate ground in front of it, reflecting on a small, dark pool or wet surface. To the right, a sloping hill covered in dark foliage ascends, with a few sparse trees, one with a distinctive, gnarled trunk and branches, silhouetted against the sky. A path of rough-hewn stone steps leads up the hill from the lower right corner. The overall palette is dominated by dark browns, grays, and deep greens, with the bright moon and the warm cave light providing strong contrasts.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
