The Execution of Marshal Ney

The artwork is titled "The Execution of Marshal Ney" and was painted by Jean-Léon Gérôme in 1868. It is a painting, and currently is housed in the collection of the Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust. The artwork measures 0.652 x 1.042 meters.

The painting depicts the aftermath of the execution of Marshal Michel Ney, a celebrated French military leader during the Napoleonic Wars. Ney's lifeless body lies sprawled on the cold, muddy ground, his face turned away from the viewer. His hat rests a short distance away, a stark reminder of the life that has just been extinguished. A firing squad marches away in the background, their backs turned to the fallen marshal, emphasizing the finality of the act. The scene is painted in a somber palette of browns and grays, mirroring the gravity of the event. The desolate atmosphere is further enhanced by the high wall that dominates the right side of the painting, symbolizing the unyielding power of the state and the consequences of defiance.