Entry of Alexander into Babylon
Charles Le Brun, 1665
Le Brun's Louvre triumph — Alexander enters Babylon under drawn chariots and sky.
About this work
Charles Le Brun painted The Entry of Alexander into Babylon in 1664–65 as part of a series on the history of Alexander the Great for King Louis XIV. Alexander rides into the city in a chariot drawn by an elephant, surrounded by soldiers, captives and treasure, with the city rising behind him. The first picture in the series, Alexander and the Family of Darius, so delighted the king that he ennobled Le Brun in December 1662 and made him First Painter to the King, declaring him "the greatest French artist of all time". The parallel between Alexander and the young Louis XIV was the point of the commission. Le Brun (1619–1690) trained in Paris under Simon Vouet, travelled to Rome with Nicolas Poussin in 1642, and became the dominant figure in French art of his century. He went on to direct the decoration of Versailles, including the Hall of Mirrors (1679–84). Alexander, king of Macedon from 336 BC, defeated the Persian Empire and entered Babylon in 331 BC; he died there in 323 BC. The painting is in the Louvre, inventory number INV 2898.
Sources: Wikimedia Commons · Wikipedia: Charles Le Brun · Wikipedia: Alexander the Great
Print facts
- Native resolution
- 10,842 × 6,854 px
- Sharp at 150 ppi up to
- 72 × 45 in
- Sizes
- Small (20 × 13 in) · $100 · 527 ppi
Medium (24 × 15 in) · $150 · 452 ppi
Large (36 × 23 in) · $300 · 298 ppi - Price includes
- Frame and US shipping · 14–21 days · 30-day returns
FAQ
Where can I buy a framed print of Entry of Alexander into Babylon?
Here. Entry of Alexander into Babylon is available as a framed print in three sizes: Small (20 × 13 in) for $100, Medium (24 × 15 in) for $150 and Large (36 × 23 in) for $300. Prices include the frame and US shipping; delivery takes 14–21 days, with 30-day returns.
What size works best for Entry of Alexander into Babylon?
The file is 10,842 × 6,854 px, so every size is sharp: even Large (36 × 23 in) prints at 298 ppi. Choose Large (36 × 23 in) for a large wall; Small (20 × 13 in) suits a narrower space.
Is it legal to print Entry of Alexander into Babylon?
Yes. Entry of Alexander into Babylon is in the public domain: its copyright, if it ever had one, expired long ago. In the United States a faithful photograph of a public-domain painting does not create a new copyright (Bridgeman v. Corel, 1999), so the image can be printed and sold freely.
