What is the story behind Gericault's Raft of the Medusa?
A)The Medusa sunk off the coast of Africa due to the captain's incompetence and its poor survivors were adrift for days.
B)The captain of the ship threw slaves overboard to collect insurance on them.
C)It is a metaphor for the growing French Revolution.
D)It depicts a group of explorers finally sighting land.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gericault's Raft of the Medusa depicts the aftermath of the wreck of a French naval frigate, the Medusa, off the coast of West Africa in 1816. The captain's incompetence led to the ship striking a sandbank and sinking, leaving 149 survivors adrift in a makeshift raft for 13 days. Only 15 of those survivors were rescued. The painting was a commentary on the political corruption of the French Restoration monarchy and the failures of the French navy.

What Is the Story Behind Gericault's Raft of the Medusa