Known as the most famous sea disaster of the nineteenth century, The Wreck of Medusa was captured by Theodore Gericault in 1819. The story of the painting, and the actual event, serve as a cautionary tale for all mankind and, with numerous parables, should resonate loudly with Americans and our current political and economic climate.

In June 1816, the French ship Medusa set sail with three other ships for the Senegalese port of Saint-Louis. Following the defeat of Napoleon by the Sixth Coalition, France adopted a new constitution that called for a constitutional monarchy and reinstated Louis XVIII after 23 years in exile. After Napoleon's escape from the island of Elba and defeat at Waterloo, the royalists were eager to bring France back to glory, and of course, get credit in the process.

Imperialism still coursed through the veins of the nation, so the King was eager to take advantage of the offer from Britain, in a show of good faith, to take control of Senegal.