MASTERPIECE

When this painting went on display in 1826, enthusiastic comments appeared in L’Oracle, including a lyrical description of the light effects: ‘It is impossible to see anything more real than the light of this lamp shining on Lord Byron, he seems to see the flame flickering on these beautiful drapes, on this body so skilfully drawn. By contrast, the painter has placed the moon illuminating a beautiful landscape, a perfectly rendered effect; by combining these two opposing effects, he has achieved a harmony and a strength of colour that would be difficult to match’.

The same source mentions that Odevaere based his portrayal of the poet on a true-to-life drawing by an eyewitness. But was this really the case? Lord Byron died in wretched conditions after a long ordeal. High fever and blood-letting (very common at the time) proved fatal to him. Doctor Millingen’s autopsy report describes his body in less prosaic terms. So, the reality did not correspond at all with Odevaere’s idealized vision of Lord Byron’s death.