Théodore Géricault (1791-1824) was a major French painter, sculptor, draughtsman and lithographer of the early 19th century, considered one of the pioneers of Romanticism in art. Born in Rouen, he trained in Paris and was strongly influenced by the classical masters, while rapidly developing a bold, innovative style. Géricault stands out for his interest in dramatic, emotional subjects. His most famous work, The Raft of the Medusa (1819), depicts a tragic shipwreck and symbolizes the artist's political and humanitarian commitment.
