Picture of Dorian Gray, The

Basil Hallward's is infatuated and impressed by Englishman Dorian Gray's beauty, and therefore Dorian has been the subject of most of Hallward's oil paintings. While Dorian is posing for a full-length portrait, he meets Lord Henry Wotton, a materialistic man who shares his hedonistic world view, stating that beauty is the only truly important thing in life. Dorian is persuaded to this point and through a course of events sells his soul so that his portrait will wither and grow old, while his earthly body remains young and beautiful. When the wish is granted, Dorian lives a carefree life while his portrait ages, collecting the all the soul-corrupting sins he commits.