The Fiancée of Belus

The Fiancée of Belus (French: La fiancée de Bélus) is a painting by French artist Henri-Paul Motte based on a fanciful Babylonian ritual associated with the deity Belus (Bel).

According to that ritual, Bel was offered a girl who sat on the lap of the Bel's statue overnight, and then was replaced by another, all of whom were the winners of daily beauty contests.

[1] Motte cited as a reference the Greek historian Herodotus,[2] but the related quote was later found to be invented.

[1] The Fiancee of Belus features oversized, Academic style.

It was previously housed in Galerie Vincent Lecuyer, near Musée d’Orsay and was exhibited at the BRAFA [nl; fr] (BRussels Art FAir) and PAD Paris design and art fair.