The Palace of Aurora

Henri Fantin-Latour

1902 · Oil on canvas · European Paintings

In November 1901, Fantin-Latour wrote: "Never again flowers or portraits. I amuse myself painting whatever comes to mind and, happily, have a dealer who buys whatever I do." The present picture is an example of the imaginative works that the artist—freed from the necessity of painting portraits or commercial still lifes—made at the end of his career. Often based on literary or musical themes, they are distinctive for their loose, spontaneous execution and delicate color harmonies. Here, the goddess of dawn is seated in her cloud-filled palace while Night draws aside her veil, her garments illuminated by the first glittering rays of day.

Artist

Henri Fantin-Latour

Date

1902

Medium

Oil on canvas

Department

European Paintings

Credit line

Bequest of Anne D. Thomson, 1923