Gustave Moreau at the Met

Salome with the Head of John the Baptist,
oil on wood, ca. 1876, Gustave Moreau (1826-1898)

A couple of paintings by Gustave Moreau, currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, recently brought back a vivid memory.

My copy of Between Epic and Dream

In 1999, the museum hosted a major exhibition, Gustave Moreau: Between Epic and Dream. I had first encountered Moreau’s work years earlier in high school, and that exhibition was my first and only chance to see many of his paintings in person. Captivated by the strange, jewel-like worlds of the French Symbolist painter, I felt that his canvases were less like illustrations of myth and scripture than visions—rich with color, ornament, and mystery.

I remember walking slowly through the galleries, examining the intricate details and shimmering surfaces. I had brought a date with me that afternoon. While we lingered in front of the paintings, she seemed largely uninterested. The contrast between my fascination and her indifference became clear quickly, and by the time we left the museum, I had already decided there would be no dinner.

I didn’t take photographs that day—I don’t think they were allowed—but I did buy the exhibition catalog, which I still own. Looking at Moreau’s work again now, even in a small group of paintings, instantly brought that afternoon back. Some exhibitions leave a lasting impression. That one definitely did.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, March 22nd, Feast of Sant'Isidoro l'Agricoltore

(L) Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, oil on wood, ca. 1876. (R) Oedipus and the Sphinx, oil on canvas, 1864, Gustave Moreau (1826-1898)