Ossian receiving the Ghosts of the French Heroes by Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson - Death Of The Fallen

Ossian receiving the Ghosts of the French Heroes

Ossian receiving the Ghosts of the French Heroes 1812 by French Painter Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson (1767 – 1824); who was a student of Jacques-Louis David and was part of the early Romantic Movement. He is noted for his clear and precise style and for the paintings of the Napoleonic family.

This painting is based on the Ossianic poems by Scottish writer, poet, literary collector and politician James Macpherson (1736 – 1796), who was known as the translator.

Ossian receiving the Ghosts of the French Heroes painting depicts the blind poet Ossian, who is believed to have lived in the third century A.D., receiving the ghost of French heroes who died in battle during the Napoleonic Wars.

There are many spirits of past kings and warriors behind Ossian, as well as the spirits of maidens rising from below to greet the heroes and from above to receive them into the heavens; while along the bottom left we can see battles ensuing against the evil looking to claim their souls.

In the center top of the artwork is a flying maiden dressed in a blue garment with a gold and red cloak carry a symbol above Ossian’s head with a blue and red roster above her among plants with a bird by its side; as an eagle with outspread wings looking at the chicken is flying over the king that is help Ossian receive the heroes.

Ossian receiving the Ghosts of the French Heroes by Anne-Louis Girodet Remastered Xzendor7 Classical Art Old Masters Reproductions Poster

There are also several dogs in the scene, one coming in with the French soldiers, which is being featured by a dog in front of Ossian, and another beside the spirit of an old wise man barking.

The painting symbolizes the heroic sacrifice of the French soldiers who died in wars, and it honors the memory of those who died in the service of their country.

Finally the painting reflects Girodet’s interest in the literature and culture of ancient Greece and Rome, as well as his admiration for the heroic ideals of the past.

Ossian receiving the Ghosts of the French Heroes is a remastered digital art old masters reproduction of a public domain image that is available as a rolled canvas print online.

About The Artist Anne-Louis Girodet

Girodet was born Montargis, France and when his both his parents died his education became the responsibilty of a prominent physician named Benoît-François Trioson, who later adopted him; and in 1812 at the age of 45 took his surname Trioson; with the two men remaining close throughout their lives.

Though Girodet firt studied architecture and pursued a career in the military, he eventually changed his study to that of painting and first study under a teacher named Luquin, and then later studied at the Paris Academy.

At the Paris Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, under the direction of French Painters Jacques-Louis David (1748 – 1825), Jean-Baptiste Regnault (1754 – 1829) and Joseph-Marie Vien (1716 – 1809).

Girodet won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1789 at the age of 22, for his painting “The Interrupted Sleep of Endymion,” and was awarded a gold medal at the Salon of 1806 for his painting “The Entombment of Atala”; and was an exhibitor at the Paris Salon throughout his career from 1791, until his death in 1824.

Though early in his career he participated in the Romantic & Classicism movements he was a Neoclassical painter who became known for his historical and mythological paintings, as well as for his portraiture.