Gustave Doré was a French artist best known as an illustrator, engraver, painter, and sculptor. He is considered one of the greatest book illustrators of the 19th century, celebrated for his dramatic imagination and powerful use of light and shadow.

Doré gained international fame through his illustrations for literary masterpieces such as Dante’s Divine Comedy, Cervantes’ Don Quixote, Milton’s Paradise Lost, and the Bible. 

Most Popular Painting: Christ Leaving the Praetorium (1867)

Although Doré is more famous for his illustrations, his large-scale painting Christ Leaving the Praetorium is widely regarded as his most famous and important painting. The work depicts Jesus being led away to crucifixion, surrounded by a vast, restless crowd. The composition is theatrical and monumental, emphasizing moral drama and human emotion.

In this painting, Doré demonstrates his mastery of light, movement, and storytelling. The contrast between Christ’s calm presence and the chaotic mass of figures around him heightens the emotional impact. When exhibited in London, the painting attracted enormous public attention and confirmed Doré’s ambition to be recognized not only as an illustrator but also as a serious painter.

Christ Leaving the Praetorium (1867) - Gustave Dore