Title: Belisarius

Artist: Baron François

Belisarius 1797 Baron François-Pascal-Simon Gérard French, 1770–1837 Oil on canvas In this poetic interpretation of a scene from Belisarius's life, the Byzantine general—blind and exiled—heroically carries his stricken guide. Gérard likely designed this smaller version of a now-lost 1795 painting as a model for a print. Criticized for his unrealistic treatment of Belisarius's feet and arms in his large-scale original, Gérard sought to refine these features in this work. Some of the adjustments made by the artist can be seen around the edges of the general's forward calf.