The Justice of Trajan
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| The Justice of Trajan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Eugène Delacroix |
| Year | 1840 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, history painting |
| Dimensions | 490 cm × 390 cm (190 in × 150 in) |
| Location | Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen |
The Justice of Trajan is an 1840 history painting by the French romantic artist Eugène Delacroix.[1][2] It illustrates the Justice of Trajan, a legendary story about the Roman Emperor Trajan. [3] The subject is taken from Dante’s Purgatory song X. [4] Before departing for the Dacian Wars, Trajan was petitioned by a widow seeking justice for her murdered husband. He delayed his departure in order to personally render justice. The subject was likely to have been suggested by Delacroix's friend Frédéric Villot.[5]
The painting was displayed at the Salon of 1840 at the Louvre in Paris. It also featured in a retrospective of Delacroix's works at the Salon of 1855, held as part of the Exposition Universelle. Today it is in the collection of the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen.[6] But originally the painting was supposed to be sent to Bordeaux, but the artist asked for it to be sent to Rouen in honor of Géricault´s memory. [7]
