{"product_id":"pollice-verso-jean-leon-gerome","title":"Pollice Verso - Jean-Léon Gérôme","description":"\u003cp\u003eA masterful depiction of a Roman gladiator awaiting the fatal verdict from the crowd in the Colosseum, painted with meticulous historical detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePollice Verso, completed in 1872, is a defining work of the French Academic tradition. Jean-Léon Gérôme depicts a scene within the Roman Colosseum, focusing on the moment a victorious gladiator looks toward the imperial box for a verdict on his defeated opponent. The title refers to the 'turned thumb' gesture, a signal for death in the arena. Gérôme was known for his rigorous attention to archaeological detail, and this painting demonstrates his ability to reconstruct historical settings with precision. The composition is structured to draw the eye from the dusty floor of the arena, where the fallen gladiator lies, up to the crowded tiers of spectators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lighting is particularly calculated, with shafts of sunlight cutting through the gloom of the arena to illuminate the victor and the bloodied sand. Gérôme uses a controlled palette to manage the vast scale of the amphitheatre, ensuring the figures remain the primary focus despite the architectural complexity. The crowd is rendered with a sense of detached observation, contrasting with the immediate violence occurring below. This work reflects the nineteenth-century fascination with classical antiquity, a period when artists sought to bring the ancient world to life through meticulous research and technical mastery. The painting is housed in the Phoenix Art Museum, having been acquired from the collection of Alexander Turney Stewart. It remains a notable example of how Gérôme utilised his training at the École des Beaux-Arts to create narrative-driven scenes that balanced historical accuracy with dramatic tension.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/arion-on-a-sea-horse-william-adolphe-bouguereau\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eArion on a Sea Horse - William-Adolphe Bouguereau — William-Adolphe Bouguereau\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/this-is-our-corner-sir-lawrence-alma-tadema\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThis is our Corner - Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema — Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jean-Léon Gérôme","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58862791459151,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58862828421455,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58862828454223,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Pollice-Verso_Poster_CompositorV1_1790157280056.jpg?v=1790157828","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/pollice-verso-jean-leon-gerome","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}