The Raft of the Medusa print — Théodore Géricault

Hope on the edge of the abyss

In July 1816, the French frigate Méduse ran aground off the coast of West Africa. Some 150 people were abandoned on a makeshift raft; after thirteen days of hunger, violence and despair, only fifteen were rescued. The disaster became a national scandal. Théodore Géricault, then 27, interviewed survivors, had a model of the raft built and studied the dying in hospitals to paint this gigantic canvas. He chose the most poignant moment: the survivors catching sight of a distant rescue ship. Shown at the 1819 Salon, it shook the art world and opened the way to Romanticism. The young Delacroix posed for one of the figures.

Dramatic and sculptural, this print suits a large wall in a living room, a library or a hallway with character. Pair it with Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People for a grand French Romantic duo.

• Artist: Théodore Géricault (1791–1824)
• Original title: Le Radeau de la Méduse
• Date: 1818–1819
• Medium: Oil on canvas, 491 × 716 cm
• Collection: Musée du Louvre, Paris

Read more in our guide: What Is Romantic Art? 15 Iconic Paintings.