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Philip Grayson's avatar

at least she got reincarnated as one of the X-Men

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Deven Gonzalez's avatar

This blog indeed drew me into the terrible realm of Lady Jane Grey's execution. Though I have always found Paul Delaroche's paintings intriguing, reading this study helped me view them from an entirely different perspective. The writer masterfully caught the contrast between Lady Jane's innocence and the terrible reality of her death. I felt her helplessness, especially in how they characterized her white undergarments as emblems of purity and fragility against the dark, repressive background. In that dark, weighty room where every feature seemed to reflect her approaching death, I could practically see myself. This review indeed increased my respect for Delaroche's work. It made me consider art's ability to help us relate to historical events and individuals. Although Lady Jane's narrative is centuries old, this study made it seem instantaneous and intimate as I stood in that room with her. Now, considering all these elements, I will go back over the painting and know I will never see it the same way again.

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