In my late teens I had the opportunity to see this painting while it was on loan to the Yale Art Museum. It is a very powerful and disturbing image. It has always been one of my favorite paintings because of its power to evoke an array of emotional reactions and opinions about life and death, compassion and indifference.

In October of 2008 I was inspired to translate Gerome's painting into a three dimensional work, focusing on the three central figures of the painting: the gladiators. It took seven months to complete the sculpture. The figures are 1/6 scale, the medium is epoxy resin with a bronz acrylic patina.

Marc-Anthony Massaro

Artist