Artwork preview

The Parthenon

Frederic Edwin Church

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Parthenon, a large ancient Greek temple with a rectangular shape and a row of columns along its front and sides, is centered in the image. The temple has a flat roof and appears to be made of light-colored stone. It has 8 columns on the side closest to the viewer and 4 columns on the side to the left. The columns are tall and slender, with vertical grooves running up their length. In the foreground, there are several broken columns and other ruins scattered around. A large stone column stands upright on the right side, with a broken top. The ground is covered in dirt and rocks, with some patches of grass visible. The background features a clear blue sky above a mountain range. The overall atmosphere suggests a daytime setting with sunny conditions.

Artwork details

Date:
1871
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Culture:
American
Dimensions:
599 × 370 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette