Dorian Gray is an aristocrat, a wealthy and fashionable young man, with dazzling beauty that captivates anyone who gazes upon him. Dorian realizes the charm he exerts over people when he stands mesmerized in front of a portrait painted by a renowned artist, Basil Hallward.

A wish spontaneously rises to his lips: to never grow old. Indeed, as the years go by, the signs of aging are reflected in the portrait, while his own beauty remains unchanged. As Dorian indulges in a life of debauchery, the portrait reveals not only the wrinkles and decay of time but also the depraved nature of the libertine young man.

Oscar Wilde's novel was considered provocative, scandalizing Victorian morals and sparking a storm of protests over the immorality of its hero, who places pleasure above any spiritual value. Today, a century after its first publication, the story of Dorian Gray continues to symbolize the elusive dream of eternal youth and imperishable beauty.