Hélène et Pâris

Hélène and Paris at the Musée d’Arras depicts the Trojan War lovers whose elopement triggered the Greek expedition against Troy. Gros’s mythological subject combines the neoclassical narrative tradition of his teacher David with a more sensuous, Romantic treatment of the amorous theme. Gros's richly colored oil technique bridged David's classical severity—in which he had been trained—with the Romantic colorism that Delacroix would develop in his wake, using warm, vibrant flesh tones and...

The mythological couple is rendered with sensuous coloring and expressive gesture. Gros balances classical composition with Romantic emotional intensity in this treatment of passionate love.