Orestes Pursued by the Furies

At the center stands a nearly nude Orestes, his torso twisted and arms raised to cradle his head, a white cloth gathered around his hips and a red drapery sweeping behind him. A group of female pursuers closes in, their outstretched arms and intense expressions converging on him; one figure holds a lit torch while others grasp at him. Bouguereau renders the scene in a polished Academic manner, with smooth, idealized flesh and precise anatomy, while the lighting creates strong chiaroscuro against a dark background and the composition uses diagonal movement and contrasting red, white, and muted greens to heighten drama.