The Raft of the Medusa

Théodore Géricault’s The Raft of the Medusa (Fig. 30-51) was inspired by contemporary events. To create his monumental and controversial canvas, Géricault combined traditional elements of his academic training with new ways of collecting information and portraying a narrative. How does Géricault’s preliminary work for this piece remain part of the academic tradition? How does it depart from that tradition?