Artwork
Alexander Condemning False Praise
Alexander Condemning False Praise is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Francesco de Mura. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Francesco de Mura, an Italian painter active in the late‑Baroque era, produced the oil on canvas work *Alexander Condemning False Praise* around 1764. The composition belongs to the Rococo period, yet its treatment of the narrative anticipates later neoclassical tendencies. The painting presents a single, decisive moment from the life of Alexander the Great.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures Alexander the Great as he rebuffs insincere compliments from a surrounding group of courtiers. By emphasizing the king’s refusal of flattery, the work underscores themes of moral integrity and self‑control, reflecting contemporary ideals of virtuous leadership. The figure’s posture and expression convey a resolute character that resists superficial praise.
Technique & Style
De Mura employs a chiaroscuro scheme that models forms through contrasts of light and shadow, giving the figures a three‑dimensional presence.
De Mura employs a chiaroscuro scheme that models forms through contrasts of light and shadow, giving the figures a three‑dimensional presence. The palette is light and decorative, characteristic of Rococo taste, while the composition’s clarity and restrained gestures hint at the emerging neoclassical emphasis on rational order. Brushwork remains fluid, allowing subtle transitions between flesh tones and drapery.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑1760s, the painting reflects de Mura’s mature period after his work in Naples and Turin. It entered private collections in the late eighteenth century before being acquired by a public institution in the early twentieth century. Documentation traces its ownership through several European dealers, confirming its attribution to de Mura and its dating to circa 1764.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco de Mura (21 April 1696 – 19 August 1782) was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque period, active mainly in Naples and Turin. His late work reflects the style of neoclassicism.
