The Fiancée of Belus | Henri Paul Motte | 1885 16th Century with the contrasts of light

with the contrasts of light and shadow adding to the sense of mysterious and ominous atmosphere in the scene

Muted tones and soft light heighten the sense of abandonment

and the inner architecture of human identity

He made sketches using both pencil and watercolour in two sketchbooks from different vantage points

The scene reflects Goya’s dark view of human folly

The Fiancée of Belus | Henri Paul Motte | 1885 16th Century with the contrasts of light"The Fiance of Belus" (1885) by Henri Paul Motte is a dramatic and imaginative historical painting that depicts a fictional ritual in ancient Babylon. At the center sits a colossal statue of the god Belus (Bel), into whose lap a nude young woman the supposed "fiance" is placed on a golden cushion as part of a ceremonial offering. The somber, stone walled temple is shrouded in shadow, with figures in priestly robes receding into the background, and