The Death of Decius Mus 1705 - 1721

"The Death of Decius Mus" is a red chalk drawing by Jean-Antoine Watteau. Watteau was working in the Rococo period in France, when there was a shift away from the monarchy and toward the aristocracy, who sought light-hearted and pleasure-seeking themes. Yet here, Watteau sketches a Roman hero, Decius Mus, who sacrificed himself in battle. This subject matter demonstrates that the artist wasn't fully aligned with the aesthetics of his moment. The sketch has a kinetic quality. Note the rearing horses, the chaotic battle, and the contorted body of Decius Mus himself. The drawing feels incomplete. I think the artist conveys how death and sacrifice have a raw, unfinished quality. They disrupt, rather than conclude, the narratives of our lives. They leave the participants in turmoil. Watteau captures the sensation of grief, the shock of war, and the moment of surrender.