Pity the sorrows of a poor old man! ... (BM 1872,1012.3778) (cropped)

Theodore Gericault is best known for his dramatic and emotionally charged works, particularly his masterpiece 'The Raft of the Medusa'. The painting depicts the aftermath of a shipwreck, with survivors clinging to a makeshift raft as they await rescue. The painting caused controversy when it was first exhibited, as it was seen as a political commentary on the incompetence of the French government. Gericault was also interested in the human form and produced a series of portraits and studies of horses. His lithographs, produced using a printing technique that allowed greater detail and tonal range than traditional printing methods, were highly influential in the development of the medium. Despite his short career (he died at the age of 32), Gericault had a profound influence on the development of French art and is considered one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement.