The Execution of Marshal Ney

It depicts the French Marshal Michel Ney immediately after his execution on 7 December 1815, with the firing squad seen marching away from the site.[5] The general reception was very split and the 1868 Salon marked the beginning of a lasting divide between Gérôme and many French art critics.[2] Théophile Gautier wrote a positive review highlighting details that give the picture meaning, Gérôme's treatment of the death theme, and the success of the painting at capturing a mental climate.[6] Henri Oulevay made a caricature where Gérôme is depicted in front of the wall with art critics as the departing firing squad, carrying pens and quills instead of rifles.[7] The previous year, Gérôme had exhibited The Death of Caesar, which has structural and thematic similarities to The Execution of Marshal Ney, with the corpse in the foreground and the killers departing with their backs to the viewer.
Some details of the work may be more legible in this albumen silver print .
Caricature of Gerome by Henri Oulevay, commenting on the controversy roused by The Execution of Marshal Ney .
Édouard Manet , The Execution of Maximilian , 1868, Kunsthalle Mannheim .
Gérôme's The Death of Caesar , 1867, Walters Art Museum , Baltimore .
Jean-Léon GérômeOil on canvasGraves Art GallerySheffieldFrenchMichel Neyfiring squadNapoleonHouse of BourbonSheffield Galleries and Museums Trustalbumen silver printÉdouard ManetKunsthalle MannheimThe Death of CaesarWalters Art MuseumBaltimoreParis SalonThéophile GautierThe Execution of Emperor MaximilianEmperor Maximilian I of MexicoThe Duel After the MasqueradeJerusalemJ. Paul Getty MuseumThe Cock FightPhryne Before the AreopagusCleopatra and CaesarThe Slave MarketBashi-BazoukPrayer in the MosquePollice VersoReception of the Grand Condé at VersaillesThe Snake CharmerA Chat by the FiresideThe Tulip FollyThe Christian Martyrs' Last PrayerSlave Market in Ancient RomeBonaparte Before the SphinxBathshebaPygmalion and GalateaThe Birth of VenusTruth Coming Out of Her WellOmphaleTanagraList of pupils