It's so weird isnt it? Someone's death/murder is where emotion should be flaring but we dont get to see it, something like that shouldn't be that easy to walk away from. All the memories and life reduced to an object thats been thoughtlessly discarded. Personally i think the executioners are more of the focus than the body

I work in the mortuary industry. Every day I’m faced with the reality of how brittle and fleeting life is. One minute they’re alive, talking, thriving, and the next minute they’re gone, so quickly it’s hard to imagine they were ever even with us. This video in so many ways reminded me of that, and made me cry. It evoked feelings of emptiness and hopelessness, and reminded me how silent the funeral home can be. Some decedents were important in life, others had absolutely no one. Some were elderly and sick, some were taken too soon. This video really resonated with my career. It reminded me that even the best of us will succumb to death when our time’s up, just like some of the prominent figures in these paintings. And just like my job at the funeral home, these painting force us to come to terms with that. This vid is one of my favs, Mr. Canvas. Amazing work.

For me the top hat laying in the mud alongside the corpse lends an extra ruthlessness to the entire scene. It's as if to say that no matter one's station in life we all return to the dirt. It is indeed a brutally cold scene.

My favorite part of the 'The Execution of Marshal Ney' is the commanding officer turning back to look at what remains of Marshal Ney. You can tell he didn't stop walking, he's just pivoting, slowing just a little, continuing to march with his men. It could be interpreted as a sign of respect, or even disrespect, OR him just making sure the job was completed. But you also see, to the right of the commanding officer, the last 2 soldiers in the line, appear to be turning their heads to talk to each other or at least looking at one another with intent. Were they originally men of Napoleon? Did they serve under the late Marshal? Are they proud of their deed or ashamed? There's a lot to read there.

Marshal Michel Ney was one of those incredible historical figures that I had so much fun researching when I was growing up. I had a knack for military history and he was one of the shining figures of Napoleonic tactical warfare. He also, like myself reflected his fiery temper in his fiery hair, and was fiercely loyal to his people, his nation, and his soldiers. Years later, when I heard from a friend that we would be able to go see his grave in Paris I was elated, paying respect to a man who gave everything, gambled everything, on what he believed was right.

I think that the post-execution painting is exceptionally emotionally powerful when compared to the "before" and "during" alternatives. While there's a certain bombastic or grisly excitement to the powerful and sudden motions of an execution as it's happening, and there's anticipation/dread for what's about to happen before an execution, there's a very sobering depressive tone to a recently-slain body laying there as the perpetrators move onwards with life.

That was really fascinating, the concept of death is such a surreal idea

4:31 I think part of what makes this painting so striking (and possibly controversial) from the perspective of a Frenchman (or even a contemporary European) of the 19th century is because of who Marshal Ney was. He was a famous and esteemed soldier and civil servant, with a dashing public persona. Rising from his birth as a commoner, just a few of his acts of heroism: he was famously seen as the last French commander to leave Russia during the winter retreat, he refused to turn Paris into a battlefield when commanded to do so - leading an insurrection of generals against Napoleon himself, and he had five horses shot out from under him and continued to fight during the Battle of Waterloo. He was as close to a Greek-Hero-Myth of a man as you could get in the French army. To see the body of this man, who moments earlier (with great panache) had refused a blindfold and issued the order to fire in his own execution, laying in the mud almost like discarded garbage is jarring. It would have been even more so for a Frenchman of the 19th century. For them, it would be the equivalent of seeing a photo of the body of JFK stashed in a corner while everyone in the room had their back turned to him. (EDIT: After seeing the other paintings in this series, it is a repeating theme: great figures discarded moments after their death.) The "Bravest of the Brave", a man who held a Field Marshal's Baton during the days of the Empire, left lying in the mud next to a bullet riddled wall. Before the days of photography, people didn't see the larger-than-life figures after their deaths like this. P.S. After looking at the series of paintings, the one difference between this and the others is that, looking carefully, you can see the senior officer in the upper left of the painting half turned looking back at Ney's body. In the other paintings, I don't see any of the "killers" looking back. I don't exactly know what that means, but I'm guessing a French military officer of the 19th century would have assigned it some meaning.

To me personally it feels like the painter tried to tell us, the viewer a message of "it has been done" vocalizing that the executed folk are a thing of the past, that theyre not amongst us anymore. Its powerful and really unique. Great video!

Marshall Ney is huge to me. The stories of his bravery and achievements during the napolionic war were a big part of my childhood.

Out of all the people I subscribe to youre the only one I consistently watch when they upload. Never stop this.

Those who killed in these paintings walk away from the violence; we cannot stop looking. You do so much in so few minutes. I owe my growing appreciation for art to your videos. Thank you.

I cried while watching this video. Well done.

I also wanted to add that there's an extra-sensory immersion from this artwork. You can hear the boots of the soldiers trudging through the mud as they walk away. The smell of gunpowder is still heavy in the air that surrounds the site of the execution. Very much similar to Goya's "3rd of May, 1808", where you can hear the cries and pleas of the victims, the movement of the rifles as the soldiers prepare to fire another volley, and the shouting commands from the French officer as the troops take aim. These works definitely want to pull you into the environment as a direct witness, and not just a casual observer walking by in a gallery.

Thank you for showing me 4 paintings I did't know existed and how strong, emotional and striking they are, and showing not the barbaric act but the shocking, dreadful and terribly sad result of it. You can hear the horrid silence of the scene and the solitude of the dead.

As a person who makes comics, I just want to say your videos have been invaluable in making me think more about how art works and how I approach it, this video in particular is making me think a lot about how I have approached things in the past, and is making me reconsider how I will approach them in the future. Thank you for doing such fascinating breakdowns and analysis!

We appreciate your insights. Keep working hard.

What really gets to me for some reason is his top hat, laying uselessly on the ground right by his body. A part of a gentleman's attire, worn proudly just moments before, now rolled over in the muck, man that once worn it no more. I look at it and I instantly understand, "it's over."

The video is a poem/painting in itself. The music, the soft way you speak, the pictures. Especially with the violin.

Awesome, just as usually. Thank you so, so much. As an "artist" myself (I'm 16 and know almost nothing about art history) I want to say that I was never interested in artists of previous years enough to make my own researches, and only after watching your videos I'm finally starting to come to understanding of just how much can one express true visual arts. Sadly, art schools are not stressing out at all just how important it is to learn from our ancestors or else not giving you any directions on how to actually analyze paintings. So, yes, my sincere gratitude. (English is not my mother tongue).

In the other paintings at least there was a realization that whatever was happening, it was not acceptable. The dissent was expressed. But in Gérome's paintings, one has even been robbed from the power to express dissent; Left silent, dead.

How you revealed the focal point of the Jerusalem painting was fantastic; I literally let out gasp. Very well done! Who knew one could be surprised by a painting?

Love your videos :)

As always, wonderful to get a glimpse of deep insight on a Sunday evening. Thank you, good man!

You should definitely make a video about the epic paintings showing the Greek revolution of 1821. Many famous ones were done by Eugène Delacroix "the Massacre of Chios" (1822), Karl Krazeisen, greek artist Nikolaos Gyzis and many more great artists that have provided pictures of events that changed the history of Greece which i believe is not mentioned enough.

Ney's execution is a big example of ingratitude and it makes the painting even more sad

When I am drawn in or intrigued by a certain work, I now find other works by the same artist online and compare, contrast and let other levels of my observation work. You brought that to me through your art. Merci beaucoup encore...😌

I really love how you talk and present those artists and their artworks in your videos. Art history can be so damn amazing if you have a good narrative or video-essay like yours. Wish I could say the same about my art teacher in school.

Art truly breathes life into the human mind. It can all seem so hopeless until your feelings are validated by another man from houndreds of years ago, expressing the very feelings you feel at present moments.

Thank you so much for continuing to introduce me to such beautiful artworks. Love your videos!

Is like subtext what is not said rather than what's being said in acting. The fact of not being explicit with the shocking incident and leaving your brain to complete what happened makes it more striking. It's us who are connecting the dots rather than having it told is more gratifying as a spectator.

Insightful and thought-provoking analysis as always, I love this kind of videos

Gerome is an artist who deserves to be 'rediscovered'. He takes a very insightful viewpoint - let's face it, depicting the action is dramatic in the moment; but depicting the aftermath conjures so much more drama from what has just happened, why it happened, and the consequences that follow on.

I love your videos. I have always been fascinated with art history, but I was always too intimidated to take a proper class. This channel is everything I idealized what that experience could have felt like, and I'm so glad I found your channel. Also, you have a really calming voice

Well reasoned perspective, very well presented and nicely edited vid. Cheers for the upload.

Really interesting video, thank you for always choosing such interesting paintings to show us, these 4 were really all so interesting. Great stuff man, lookin forward to the next one

Wonderful video, once again! I am so happy to see a new Canvas video, because I know I'll be introduced to a great artist I hadn't heard of. This time, I had heard of Gérôme, but hadn't seen The Execution of Marshal Ney or Jerusalem. And now, they are two of my favourite 19th century paintings. Great work!

your work brings all this art to life for me. I was blind and now I see. Thank you.

Death is so humbling. No matter how powerful one has ever been, after their death, the living continues on living.

I really like these videos you do where you explore a concept through artworks. you've convinced me to join

“The army of France is full of brave men, but Marshal Ney is truly the bravest of the brave!”

The reality of death through execution is made more palpable by showing the aftermath, the gruesomely tragic truth, the consequence. These depictions are truly thought provoking.

I didn't know Gerome painted such powerful paintings, he's more famous for his mythological and historical works

Beautiful, calm voice explaining wonderful paintings. Thank you.

This is one of my favorite paintings. Even before I knew it’s story. Love the video and the profile !!🎉🎉

Thank u for the content!

This were the fastest 10 minutes of my life! Good job man, you got me interseted into art history

I believe I am genuinely uneducated in art. I have always been fascinated but always too afraid to ask or even look up and try to understand some art. This channel has changed all of that for me. Like a quiet deep sense of appreciation for the work and for the time spent on people like myself. Thank you.

I love how you explain art/paintings, I am a big fan as soon as I can be a patron I will, Please keep doing what your doing, you make art and this world better ... Thank You

Great video and the story was also fascinating.

Excellent!!!

Im entering to the world of art history and your videos always have the perfect balance of actual history of humanity and the meaning of the paintings. Congratulations for your work! Hope we see more :-)

Thank-you for such an insightful & revealing journey through these paintings,I was intruiged as soon as I saw the painting,I really like your way of presenting your films,Paula,England x

I love your content, so relaxing, so informative and well said, excellent content big man!

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Learned a decent amount! Thanks

Really like how you translate visual meanings into video effects, it really adds a lot of atmosphere.

Thank you for your great videos!

Interesting observations and parallels. Good analysis!

A very interesting video to get in my front page recommendations I’ll enjoy exploring a few other videos from this channel

The sheer level of detail in the execution of Caesar is unbelievable

Thank you for this.

Thank you, amazing video!

Gratefully, I have been edified yet again. Thank you!

Great video as always! I love how atmospheric your works are. It really brings these paintings to live. though I would wish you talked a bit more about Ney and his exicution in detail. To me the painting shows just perfectly how quickly on can fall from grace and world history.

I can hear this painting, it is so powerful.

Really enjoy your content. Learn a lot of new to me art, about said art, and a little about why I've always been drawn more to darker side of life. Thank you!

these realy hit different

Aftermath, there is power there, the reality of the situation is clear. Great painting.

Bravo! Thank you

first two minutes of the video display such gravitas cemented by the piece you chose to have played, may you share the name of the piece it’s genuinely so beautiful

What a wonderful critique about the painting, its context and its meaning❤

After seeing the 4 paintings, what strikes me the most is that "The execution of Marshall Ney" is the only one where one of the executioners is actively looking back at the victim. It evokes, to me, the feeling of contemplation and a tinge of doubt/remorse about it while they walk away from the scene, while in the others, the act is done and the perpetrators don't seem to second guess it, in the Caesar one, they somewhat revel in it

Giving the order to fire at your own execution is pretty badass I must say.

Lovely.

i’m not really into painting as i am into other forms of art, but something about this was really impactful

Looking at the paintings it’s so bizarre to see the coldness of them. Most paintings depicting a violent death show some kind of struggle or battle or even emotion but the image of the Marshall face down in the mud with no one even bothering to move him is so chilling to me

Strangely one of my first impressions when I saw the painting was an association with Helene Schjerfbeck's Wounded Warrior in the Snow, and I couldn't really figure out why, until you pointed out the theme in this artist's paintings of people walking away from scenes of violence. That's the connection (Wounded Warrior in the Snow doesn't depict an execution, specifically, but it does depict a wounded soldier left behind to die, while the rest of the troop marches away in the distance)

Thanks!

That was so viscerally poignant! The greatest outrage is the indifference.

I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am to have come across your channel. I was introduced to you with 'Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan', and have been hooked ever since. After viewing every video, I have a mini lecture with myself to fully express my own thoughts and impressions on the works you depict. With this one, I don't know why, but I feel the need to comment on a few points that jumped out at me: TLDR: Wow, sorry, this turned into an essay WAY too quickly. Short form, it's interesting to observe who's looking back at the deceased, and who is shown in light v in shadow or faded. Thank you again for your incredible content! 1. In The Execution of Marshal Ney, I was intrigued by the figure of the head executioner as he turns to glance at Ney's body. There's no need for him to confirm that Ney is still there, and no reason to confirm that he is indeed deceased. Yet Gerome shows him giving a final glance, and we're left wondering why. 2. The Duel After the Masquerade, the depiction of colors, and their level of vibrancy as we view each varying subject seems deliberate. Gerome wants us to first focus on the injured man, despite the fact that his white costume and paling skin so closely match the snow, and the pale sky. Being surrounded by more vibrantly clothed companions further draws our attention, and emphasizes the contrast between life and death. Meanwhile, the equally vibrantly colored opponents are faded, because they're walking away. The opponent appears to be supported by his companion, either from an injury, or, given the discarded sword, as a moral support. From that, I gather that the man, traumatized by what happened, couldn't even bear to face what he has done, and needed to leave immediately. Just my thoughts on that piece. 3. Jerusalem: I think I found this one the most fascinating. The skyline looks highly unnatural (unless it's the shadow from a nearby tree, but I doubt that), especially given the crescent moon on the far right, orange in hue, and cloaked in a darkness that seems to bleed into the sky. We're almost meant to focus on the crucified shadows, based on the brightest level of light directed on them. This observation would lead us to then note that the crowd now descends, both literally and figuratively, into darkness. The exception is two of the Romans who look back, and appear to be saluting the condemned, or at least giving some form of respectful acknowledgement. 4. The Death of Caesar: I like how this piece seems to contrast with the previous two, in terms of light and shadow. Caesar is shown in fading light, despite being dressed in the same white cloth as his killers. The killers are more brightly depicted as they rush out into the light of day to proudly declare what they have done. One older senator on the right, a little separate from the crowd, glances back at Caesar's body, and is one of the only three with his weapon held downward.

There is also the silence after the ending of the video. As with most of your videos. And it is very much appreciated🙏

Awesome. Thanks

It's that one figure of the officer, who is half turning to look back towards Ney's body, that elevates it even more. Just the momentary pause, caught perfectly, that makes you wonder what is going through that officer's mind. Perhaps it's regret at the needless death of the former hero, which somehow grants the tiniest scintilla of dignity to the abandoned corpse.

Another great video. Thank you.

Thanks ❤❤

Thank you. “The Sounds of Silence “. Well Done

One particular feeling I get out of all of these paintings is a sense of consequence. The act is completed and the perpetrators move on, but the body remains, suggesting that despite the careless nature of the executioners, the death matters more than even they do, and that while they may even forget, the world will remember forever.

It's all fun and games until you see real life execution. I have seen in Mexico. You almost can see a soul leaving the body. You can feel it. It's insane.

For me, the appeal of this painting primarily lies in the person of Ney. He was indeed a very brave soldier (who performed heroic, almost superhuman deeds during the retreat from Russia), but by no means a flawless general. But the crucial point is that he first promised king Louis XVIII. to return Napoleon "in an iron cage" to Paris after he had returned from Elba - Ney wanted to avoid a bloody civil war. But after his troops had defected to Napoleon and the Emperor appealed to Ney as the hero of the army, he too joined him. After Waterloo, Ney refused to flee France several times and was arrested. Several other generals and Marshals had joined Napoleon, but they got away relatively easy - only Ney was tried for treason. The Bourbon monarchy wanted to make him a symbolic case, and the whole thing turned into an unsavoury political show trial. Ney's death was certain before it even began. And still, he refused to flee and accepted his execution. For me, this is the true meaning of this painting: France's bravest officer, loved by the soldiers, is betrayed by his own country, tossed away by the new government to make a political point. He himself expressed this ingratitude and injustice in his last words: "...I protest against my condemnation [as a traitor]. I have fought hundreds of battles for France and not one against her. Soldiers, fire!" I think the painting expresses that very well - Ney lies dead on the ground, in civilian clothes, robbed of all military glory. Executed by the very soldiers who once saw him as their talisman and hero. It's not an important event, not a big public execution, just a man being shot in an insignificant corner of Paris. The column marches away and that's it. The officer looks back at the scene, perhaps with regret, perhaps with indifference or resentment.

Beautiful video

It was so interesting! Thank you!

Marshall Ney would have been a folk hero to the people of the era where the painting was made. He led a large force of troops that were cut off during the Russian winter back to the main French force. Additionally in 1868 Napoleon the Third was in power, so it would stand to reason that men like Ney would be Lionized (the impact of which would have been significant as previously his fame would have been suppressed by the Bourbons). Its humbling, it shows that no matter how great you are you are still just a man. No matter how hard you fight you always end up in the ground. And no matter how passionately you strive (Vive l'empereur fading in the background and being shot away is symbolic of this) people will forget you when you are no longer useful. Great video.

Fascinating

Ney is actually an important person for me- as a child I was obsessed with Napoléon and his campaigns and Ney was one of his best generals - his double treason made him all the more interesting.

There is silence but I also hear the sound of the boots walking away. It's strikingly cinematic, maybe something Kubrick might do if he had filmed the scene.

That Jerusalem painting made me audibly go "Ohhhhhh" after you pointed out what the shadows were.

I'm a history student, and art history is one of those areas I've always been fascinated by, but it isn't my strong point. These videos are great for building new appreciation for the field, and for that i can't thank you enough.

Thank you!

My spouse and I watch your videos on our television, so we can't leave comments. I came here today to subscribe on my computer and let you know how much I enjoyed learning about Gerome and his execution paintings. Your videos are remarkable, and we enjoy them all. Thank you.

A similar painting to Goya's is "Execution of Torrijos and his Companions on the Beach at Málaga" by Antonio Perez (Both in the Del Prado) while it doesn't show the immediate after math it does depict all the aspects of an execution. Those dead, those who will be, the monks who hear their confessions etc.