The Picture of Dorian Gray Is a philosophical novel by Irish writer Oscar Wilde. Dorian is said to have sold his soul to ensure that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. Thus Dorian could live an amoral hedonistic life while staying young and beautiful; all the while, his portrait ages and visually records every one of Dorian's sins. If Dorian views his portrait he will instantly age and all his sins come back to him.