Eugène Delacroix

98 Pages·2014·69.017 MB·English

by  Isabella Alston

Eugène Delacroix
Published by TAJ Books International LLC 2014
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ISBN 978-1-84406-322-2 Hardback
978-1-62732-001-6 Paperback
Printed in China
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Eugène Delacroix
I s a b e l l a A l s t o n
Eugène Delacroix
1798–1863
Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix, better French diplomat, Talleyrand. Delacroix
known simply as Eugène Delacroix, strongly physically resembled Talleyrand and
was highly influential in the 19th-century was protected throughout his life by him,
Romanticism art movement and is considered particularly so after he was orphaned at the
by many art historians to be the most age of 16. An additional consideration in
important of the Romantic painters. His work terms of Delacroix’s paternity is that Victoire’s
emphasized the creative and imaginative husband, Charles-François Delacroix, also
aspects of the individual, focusing on the use a diplomat, is commonly viewed as having
of art as a means of self-actualization and been unable to father children. He preceded
self-realization. Romanticism reflected the Delacroix’s mother in death by nine years.
newly emerging concept that an individual Talleyrand’s oversight was of particular
could only ever fully find self-awareness importance because Delacroix’s birth coincided
if able to separate themselves from society. with the birth of the tumultuous French
Society only enabled the individual to Revolution, which endured for the first 20
philosophically advance and develop to a years of Delacroix’s life.
limited degree, and thus the individual had to Delacroix attended the Lycee Louis-
search for enlightenment and understanding le-Grand in Paris, a notoriously rigorous
beyond the confines of society. Delacroix is school. He then continued his education at
often attributed with refining Romanticism, the Lycee Pierre Corneille located in Rouen,
not only aesthetically but philosophically as France. This school catered to children
well, for it was a movement not only in art, of aristocrats and the upper class, further
but also in literature. As a result, Delacroix’s suggesting and supporting the notion that
contribution to art simultaneously influenced Talleyrand was Delacroix’s biological father.
all the liberal arts of the time. Delacroix performed exceedingly well at
Delacroix was born in Charenton-Saint- both schools, focusing on his studying and
Maurice on the Ile-de-France, just outside winning numerous awards for his art and
Paris. His mother, Victoire, was the daughter drawings. After graduation he was tutored by
of Jean Francois Oeben, a well-known French the classically trained Pierre-Narcisse Guerin,
cabinetmaker. It is thought that Delacroix was a successful and well-known French artist
actually the illegitimate son of the famous of the time, who worked in the Neo-classical
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Self-portrait, 1837
Oil on canvas, 65 x 54 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris
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style, a forerunner of the Romantic movement. being killed by the Turks. It too was exhibited
Therefore, much of Delacroix’s early work at the Paris Salon. At this time, the Greek
was highly influenced by Neo-classical people were seeking independence from
painters, yet as he progressed in maturity and the Turks, deeply entrenched in a war for
experience his unique style began to emerge. independence. Delacroix’s work showed his
Artists in other fields, such as Chopin in music, sympathy for their plight, a fight the French
who were reknowned for their contributions people understood well having been involved
to the Romantic movement were also a major in their own revolutions against oppression.
influence on Delacroix during these formative The French state was so moved by his work
years. that it was purchased and displayed for all
An early painting, The Barque of Dante, to see. It is currently hung at the Musée du
was accepted by the Paris Salon in 1822. Louvre in Paris. This evocatively emotive
Orphan Girl at the Cemetery, painted in work is one of the first examples of Delacroix
1823 and 1824, is believed to be a precursor becoming the leading painter of the Romantic
to his larger work, Massacre at Chios. style. Many critics disliked the piece because
Regardless of the motivation for the work, they felt that the tone of the work was too
art historians consider Orphan Girl at the depressing and dark, going so far as to call it a
Cemetery a masterpiece in its own right. “massacre of art.” Despite this, the controversy
The girl is looking up and into the distance the work provoked only garnered more
in fear, her emotions translated effortlessly attention for Delacroix, thus helping rather
to the viewer. Her figure and stance speak than hurting his career.
of utter vulnerability, inviting immediate After Massacre at Chios, Delacroix painted
sympathy. The dark and dim coloring of the a second work, Greece Expiring on the Ruins
landscape in the background magnifies the of Missolonghi, in 1826 that also portrayed
loss, despair, hopelessness, isolation, and fear the Greek war for independence. The central
of the unknown that is so well conjured by her figure in this piece is a female figure robed
image and is a good example of Delacroix’s in white wearing a blue coat with a red scarf
sophisticated use of chiaroscuro in many of his tied around her waist. The robe she wears is
paintings. open in the front, revealing her bare chest.
Another early internationally recognized She stands, symbolizing Greece, in the midst
work by Delacroix is the 1824 painting of chaos and destruction. Her arms are open
Massacre at Chios, which depicts the Greeks in a gesture both questioning and horrified.
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The scene she beholds is unnecessary ruin and (1827). Delacroix based the former on the
destruction, a product of ceaseless fighting and poem by Byron. The story of the poem and
human misunderstanding. Near the bottom of the painting is about a Venetian infidel
the painting a hand protrudes from the rubble, who fights the Muslim, Hassan, in order to
emphasizing the excessive suffering caused avenge the death of his lover whom Hassan
by human hate. In general, critics describe murdered after she fled his harem. Delacroix’s
the work as a monument to the people of painting shows the struggle between the
Missolonghi and their struggle against the two protagonists as if their actions were
tyrannical rule of the Turks. Delacroix was freeze-framed in time. He captures them
interested in this subject not only because of in the moments before striking with their
his natural French empathy, but also one of his weapons, seated astride their stallions,
favorite poets, Lord Byron, died there. creating a dynamic atmosphere within the
In 1825 Delacroix traveled to England, frame. They mirror each other in pose. In the
bringing back with him the English use of work, Delacroix channels the earlier Baroque
coloring and portraiture. Perhaps his most painting style, but adds a modern twist with
exemplary work in this style is the portrait of looser brush strokes and freer interpretation
Louis-Auguste Schwiter. Appropriately, the of the subject matter. The painting is
painting now hangs in the National Gallery reminiscent of Rubens’ style, although
in London. During this period Delacroix Delacroix has implemented the 19th century’s
also produced numerous monochromatic use of complementary colors and chiaroscuro,
lithographs or prints as book illustrations. inserting shadows to emulate and enhance the
Lithography was a popular means of mass- emotional aspects of the work.
producing artwork, not only to earn money Death of Lara, which dates from the
but also as a means of self-promotion. mid-to-late 1820s, and is currently in the
During his career, Delacroix illustrated the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los
literary works of numerous authors, including Angeles, was also inspired by a Byron poem.
William Shakespeare and Goethe, using the In the watercolor, a woman robed in a blue
lithographic process. gown with red sash and a tartan shawl wears
Delacroix’s work in the 1820s was filled a small military cap. She is looking down in
with themes of sexuality and violence. sadness and despair, grieving for the fallen
Examples include The Combat of the Giaour soldier who lies prone and stiff at her feet.
and Hassan (1826) and Woman with a Parrot Death of Lara was inspired by the poem “Lara”
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Turkish Horseman, c. 1825
Watercolor on paper, Dimensions unknown
Private Collection
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by Lord Byron that was published in 1814. forward on her quest. The French government
The poem tells the tale of a Spanish overlord also bought this work, but did not immediately
named Lara who led a peasant revolt, which display it publicly because the subject
was thwarted by the hostile baron Otho. Lara matter was believed to be too provocative.
was wounded by an arrow in battle and died, Despite this, Delacroix received numerous
but was cared for faithfully by his compatriot, commissions from the French government as
Kaled. The twist to the story is that Kaled is a result of the work. After the Revolution of
a female disguised as a man in order to more 1848, which led to the election of the new
easily travel and accompany her lover, Lara. French president, Louis Napoleon, the painting
Delacroix’s ability to expound on the element was put on display. Today, the work is on
of love and loss at the end of the poem lends display at the Musée du Louvre.
a mournful air of romance to the illustration A Young Tiger Playing with Its Mother
and is a fine example of his talent for visually (1830) is an example of Delacroix’s choice of
interpreting the written word. His refined animals rather than humans as subjects. Many
use of color helps create the rich detail and critics believe that this work was inspired by
emotional contrast of the story, evoking the one of the painter’s visits to the Jardin des
true spirit of the original literary work. Plantes in Paris, although it is also thought
One of Delacroix’s best-known paintings that his pet cat served as a model and perhaps
is Liberty Leading the People (1830), which inspiration for the image. The influence of
represents the Parisian people in their search Rubens, whom Delacroix greatly admired, can
for liberty, fraternity, and equality, a subject be seen especially in the contrasting tenseness/
of great importance to the French nation on tenderness between the two creatures, mother
the heels of their successful revolution. This and child. The softer side of what is generally
work was highly influential in an artistic sense characterized as an untamed, dangerous
because it highlighted the differences between animal dominates the painting. Interesting to
Neo-classicism and Romantism. The painting note, a later work of Delacroix, Tiger Hunt
captures the French citizens as they take their (1854), captures a very different spirit in
weapons in hand and march forward, led by the felines, one of anger and ferocity. Thus,
the physical representation of Lady Liberty. Delacroix is able to understand and to portray
Although soldiers lie dead on the ground, the the innately sensual and tender side of these
dark tone is overpowered by the welcome creatures in his artwork alongside their natural
feminine spirit of Liberty as she marches aggressiveness. The emotions that he so well
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