TheOldMastersPrintsThe Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault: meaning, location and key facts
The Raft of the Medusa is an oil on canvas by Théodore Géricault, painted between 1818 and 1819. It measures 491 × 716 cm and is held at the Louvre, Paris.
Key facts
| Artist | Théodore Géricault |
|---|---|
| Date | 1818–1819 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 491 × 716 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Louvre, Paris |
| Style | Romanticism |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q212616) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
In July 1816 the French frigate Méduse ran aground off the coast of Mauritania. About 150 people were left adrift on an improvised raft and only 15 survived thirteen days of hunger, mutiny and cannibalism. Géricault paints the moment they glimpse on the horizon the ship that will rescue them.
The composition rises diagonally from the corpses in the foreground to a man waving a cloth on top of a barrel. The tragedy became a political scandal because the captain owed his post to connections rather than experience.
Did you know?
- Géricault interviewed two survivors, built a model of the raft and studied corpses in hospitals to paint it.
- His friend Eugène Delacroix posed for one of the bodies in the foreground.
- The bitumen used in the shadows has darkened and cracked parts of the canvas over time.
Where to see the original
The Raft of the Medusa is at the Louvre, Paris. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is The Raft of the Medusa?
- The original is held at the Louvre, Paris.
- How big is The Raft of the Medusa?
- The original painting measures 491 × 716 cm (height × width).
- Who painted The Raft of the Medusa and when?
- It was painted by Théodore Géricault between 1818 and 1819.
- Can I hang a reproduction of The Raft of the Medusa at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €55.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
