Hédouin, Edmond

The Romans in their Decadence (French: Les Romains de la décadence, also translated as Romans During the Decadence or Romans in the Decadence of the Empire) is a painting by the French artist Thomas Couture, depicting the Roman decadence. It debuted as the most highly acclaimed work of the Paris Salon of 1847, a year before the 1848 Revolution which toppled the July Monarchy. Reminiscent of the style of Raphael, it is typical of the French 'classic' style between 1850 and 1900 today analyzed within the wider current of academic art. The exhibition catalogue included a quote from the poet Juvenal: Nunc patimur longae pacis mala; savior armis Luxuria incubuit, victumque ulciscitur orbem. ("Now do we suffer the evils of prolonged peace; luxury more ruthless than the sword broods over us, and avenges a conquered world." A picture of Rome in its decline.) It now belongs to the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. It was etched by Edmond Hédouin (1820–1889).