Bride of Belus | Henri-Paul Motte | c. 1885 Pietro Antonio Rotari The painting depicts rows of

The painting depicts rows of colorful irises in full bloom

" Raphael pays homage to the intellectual achievements of the past while celebrating the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom

aligning with the broader themes of his work that explore human anxiety and existential dread

a man bangs his head against a brick wall

Willem van Ruytenburch

Bride of Belus | Henri-Paul Motte | c. 1885 Pietro Antonio Rotari The painting depicts rows ofAbout the artwork: Henri Paul Mottes Bride of Belus (c. 1885) stages a dramatic reinterpretation of an ancient Babylonian ritual described by classical writers, where a woman was offered to the god Bel. Motte turns this fragmentary myth into an almost theatrical historical fantasy: a young woman stands elevated above a lavish temple interior, illuminated as the central sacrificial figure, while priests, soldiers, and worshippers surround her with