This evocative painting captures a poignant moment where a centaur, a mythical creature with the body of a horse and torso of a man, carries a lifeless poet draped in a flowing green robe. The composition centers on the powerful yet tender interaction between the two figures, set against a dramatic sky veined with turbulent clouds and a glowing sunset that casts an ethereal light across the landscape. The artist employs rich, saturated colors—deep blues, fiery reds, and verdant greens—that instill the scene with emotional intensity and a dreamlike quality. The brushwork is expressive and textured, lending a tactile sense to the musculature of the centaur and the delicate pallor of the poet's skin.

The emotional impact of the work is profound; the centaur’s bowed head and firm grip suggest a mixture of sorrow and reverence, evoking themes of mortality, sacrifice, and the tragic beauty of artistic genius lost. The mythological subject matter elevates the narrative beyond the literal, inviting viewers to ponder the eternal struggle between the wild, primal forces and the fragile, transcendent spirit of creativity. This painting reflects the 19th-century fascination with symbolism and myth, where reality and imagination intertwine to explore deeper truths about human experience.