Norton Simon Museum to Show Manet's Execution of Maximilian

From November 13, 2026, to March 1, 2027, the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena will showcase 'Making History: Manet’s “Execution of Maximilian”' from the National Gallery in London. This exhibition highlights Édouard Manet's The Execution of Maximilian (c. 1867–68), one of his most significant yet incomplete works. It represents the second of five iterations (comprising four paintings and one print) that Manet produced, illustrating the execution of Austrian archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, the briefly reigning emperor of Mexico, by supporters of the deposed president Benito Juárez in 1867. The event, which also included the deaths of generals Tomás Mejía and Miguel Miramón, sent shockwaves through Europe, where many, including Manet, held French emperor Napoleon III responsible for encouraging Maximilian's rule. The exhibition delves into the historical backdrop and the painting's development, shedding light on Manet's artistic innovation and political involvement.