Odilon Redon’s “Apollo’s Chariot,” created circa 1914, is a remarkable work of the Symbolist movement, masterfully rendered in chalk and charcoal on paper. The artwork measures 91.5 by 77 centimeters and falls within the genre of mythological painting. Presently, it resides within the esteemed collection of the Musée d’Orsay, located in Paris, France, where it contributes to their rich assemblage of Symbolist art.
In the artwork, the composition is dominated by the figures of horses and a chariot that are set against a dynamic, almost dream-like background. The horses appear to be in motion, ascending or galloping across the celestial plane, which may be intended to represent the sky. The varying textures and colors Redon has used evoke a sense of ethereal mystique, in line with the Symbolist penchant for capturing the ineffable and the emotional resonance of a subject rather than its literal representation.
The background palette transitions from a deep blue at the top to earthen tones at the bottom, which might symbolize the meeting of the heavens and the earth. These horses and what might be the suggestion of a chariot wheel allude to the myth of Apollo, the sun god who was said to ride his chariot across the sky to bring forth the dawn. The overall execution is indicative of Redon’s fascination with the otherworldly and the transcendent qualities of myth, which he interprets with a signature blend of abstraction and figuration.
