Dimensions: 135.5 × 240 cm
From the National Art Collections, in the MNW since 1956, inv. no. MP 202 MNW
Adoption period: 1 year
Biography
Academic paintings depicting themes from Greco-Roman mythology, the world of antiquity and the Orient were of great interest to bourgeois society in the second half of the 19th century. Both in Arcadian idylls and harem scenes, nude women with ideal, statuesque bodies exuding sensuality were shown with particular fondness. Many times these oriental motifs reflected a decadent fascination with the interdependence of beauty and death, pleasure and cruelty. Representative of this trend is a painting by Franciszek Żmurka. In a harem setting, amidst lustrous fabrics and jewels, the artist depicted the beautiful body of a murdered odalisque. The dramatic and at the same time sultry, sensual atmosphere of the scene is emphasized by ornate draperies, limiting the depth of the space, objects scattered in disorder, and the contrast of light and darkness. The carefully arranged pose of the dead odalisque emphasizes the fine lines of her body and delicate, luminous complexion. The work is one of Zmurka's best works. They are distinguished by a harmonious range of colors and workshop perfection.
František Žmurko enjoyed both public and critical acclaim. He was a member of the Munich Kunstverein. Under the pretext of depicting historical scenes, especially ancient and oriental, he painted sensual female nudes.
