Can't find the painting that you are looking for? No problem! We can paint any painting in any size, even if it's not listed on our website. Simply make a request and we will get back to you with a quote within a few hours.
Optional - receive your painting ready to hang. Note we are only able to ship framed paintings up to a certain size. Once the maximum size is reached, the framing option is automatically disabled. If ordered without a frame the painting will arrive rolled inside a protective tube with an extra 1.5" white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it in any local frame shop.
Jean-Léon Gérôme's 1872 painting Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down) is a monumental work from a technical master and much-lauded member of the French Academic tradition which prefigures the monumental bombast of technicolor Hollywood epics. Retaining many qualities and idiosyncrasies of style from Gérôme's Neo-Grec period in which, alongside a group of likeminded young artists, Gérôme declared an aim to present new vision of ancient Greece based on archeological accuracy, Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down) reinforced the popularity of the French Academy and breathed new life into the genre of history painting. Gérôme was one of the most respected and publicly praised painters of his day, facing criticism only from the more experimental elements in French painting, such as from the Realists and the Impressionists. Gérôme, however, was arguably a pioneer in his own field, creating almost experiential reproductions of historical and mythological scenes, featuring unique and surprising iconography. With a constant intermingling of genres, blending values, time periods, and continental morals, Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down) is a perfect representation of Gérôme's skillful blurring of fiction and reality.
Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down) features the eponymous Roman gesture that is said to have been given by the audience and by dignitaries to the victorious gladiators in condemnation or reprieve of their floored opponents. This painting is said to have been the inspiration for a scene in the 2000 film Gladiator which certainly embodied the monumental melodrama of the scene. As an imagined reproduction of a Roman scene, the artist blends a sense of awkward voyeurism with a perceived sense of moral superiority. Historical accuracy was an essential element for nineteenth-century painters and audiences, and there was much discussion as to the interpretation of murals and graffiti depicting the thumbs-up or thumbs-down gesture. Ever since it was first exhibited, Gérôme's Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down) has remained in the public consciousness as a snapshot of Roman life.
Real Oil Paints, Real Brushes, Real Artists, Real Art. The Certificate of Authenticity which arrives with every painting provides an assurance and verifies the authenticity of the hand painted fine art reproduction you purchased. Each oil painting is created by hand using only the finest canvas and oil paints available.
Important Notes About Your Painting:
If you have any request to alter your reproduction of Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down),
you must email us after placing your order and we'll have an artist contact you.
If you have another image of Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down)
that you would like the artist to work from, please include it as an attachment. Otherwise, we will reproduce the above image for you exactly as it is.
Free shipping is included in the price of the painting. Once the painting is ready and dry enough to ship, we will roll it and ship it in a sturdy cardboard tube.
We always ship express via courier to ensure your order reaches you as soon as possible - normally within three business days. The total delivery time from the moment you place your order until the package is delivered to your door is normally between three to four weeks.
If, in the unlikely event you were dissatisfied with the painting after reviewing it in person, it can be returned for a full refund for up to 365 days after delivery.
When you receive the painting; you are free to return it for more revisions or else for a full refund minus our actual shipping cost -- which is, on average, $25 per painting.
1st Art Gallery provides a full warranty covering manufacturing and material defects for paintings purchased from our website. The warranty covers damage for normal use. Damage caused by incidents such as accidents or inappropriate use are not covered.
Depending on the degree of damage to the warranted painting, it will either be repaired or replaced. This warranty service is provided free of charge.
When purchasing a painting on its own, it will arrive rolled inside a secure tube with an extra 1.5" of white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it in any local frame shop.
You may choose to purchase your painting framed, in which case, it will arrive "ready to hang". We offer more than 20 beautiful models, all hand finished and expertly assembled by our experienced framers.
Note that for safety reasons we can only frame up to a certain size. Once the maximum size is reached the framing option is automatically disabled.
If you are planning to frame your painting yourself,
use an existing frame, or frame it locally, you may choose to order your painting with a stretching service,
meaning that it will arrive mounted on wooden bars.
If you're considering not framing your painting at all, you may opt for a Gallery Wrap. The term Gallery Wrap refers to the way the canvas is stretched, which is by wrapping it around thick stretcher bars, about 1.5 inch thick, with the canvas being secured to the back rather than the sides of those bars.
All orders ship with UPS, FedEx or DHL and will arrive directly to your home or office. A tracking number will be emailed to you as soon as the order leaves our studio so you can track it online. All orders ship express and usually arrive within 4-5 days from the shipping date. Due to shipping restraints, many of our framed, stretched, and oversize paintings may take 6-21 days for arrival depending on the safest route determined by the postal service.