Lord Byron on his Death-bed

The premature death of the celebrated poet at Missolonghi in 1824 shocked the entire civilized world. Byron the Romantic became a heroic symbol of liberty for the philhellenist movement, which supported the Greek war of independence against the Turks.

The English poet lies bathed in a red glow like an ancient Greek hero. The titles of his poems are inscribed in laurel wreaths along the edge of his bed.