Eugène Delacroix

Eugène Delacroix is widely recognized as the leader of the Romantic movement in 19th-century French art. His life and work exemplified the movement's focus on emotion, exoticism, and the sublime. Delacroix departed from academic norms in his choice of subjects, preferring large-scale depictions of scenes from contemporary history executed dramatically, with energetic brushwork and dynamic compositions.

Biography of Eugène Delacroix

Controversy surrounds the birth of Eugène Delacroix due to his father's operation to remove a testicular tumor just seven months before his birth. However, most believe he was the youngest of four children born to Victoire Oeben and Charles Delacroix, who was a foreign minister under Napoleon's regime. The artist's early life was marked by significant loss: his father died when he was seven, his brother was killed in battle when he was nine, and his mother died in 1814 when he was just sixteen. 

From a young age, Delacroix showed an interest in art. With encouragement from his uncle, artist Henri-François Riesener, he began studying under painter Pierre-Narcisse Guérin and enrolled at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris at eighteen.

In 1819, Delacroix received his first commission for the church of Orcement in France, resulting in "The Virgin of the Harvest." The following year, he collaborated with Théodore Géricault on a commission for the Cathedral of Nantes, ultimately painting "Virgin of the Sacred Heart" (1822) and sharing the fee with Géricault. Delacroix and Géricault, who had become friends during their time as students of Guérin, bonded over their mutual admiration for each other's work, particularly Géricault's "Raft of the Medusa" (1818-1819).

Early in his career, Delacroix experienced his first bout of tubercular laryngitis, a condition that plagued him for life and caused him constant concern for his health. To prevent its recurrence, he wore a scarf tied around his neck, which not only served a practical purpose but also contributed to his image as a fashionable man.

Renowned for his independence, Delacroix defied French artistic convention by eschewing the prestigious Prix de Rome, opting instead to establish himself through regular exhibitions at public Salons from 1822 onwards. Departing from classical themes, he embraced a modern approach by portraying dramatic narratives, often inspired by contemporary events, with vibrant color and dynamic compositions. This shift is evident in monumental works such as "Scenes from the Massacres of Chios" (1824), "The Death of Sardanapalus" (1828), and "Liberty Leading the People" (1830), which solidified his position as a leading figure of the Romantic movement, a label he didn't always embrace.

A pivotal moment in Delacroix's career occurred in 1832 when he traveled to Morocco. Spending six months traversing the country with the diplomatic party, Delacroix was tasked with documenting their journey through artworks. Among the memorable experiences was a meeting with the Sultan, who presented Delacroix with a horse, later sold to finance the acquisition of Moroccan artifacts he brought back home.

The sights, sounds, and captivating new culture Delacroix encountered during his journey, particularly the people, their attire, and the Mediterranean landscape's light and atmosphere, inspired an entire body of work. However, finding models posed a challenge, as many Muslims he encountered abstained from posing due to religious restrictions on image depiction. Consequently, many of his subjects were Jewish individuals who welcomed Delacroix into their homes for sketches. 

Upon his return to France, Delacroix's career flourished with significant official commissions, including projects for the Salon du Roi and Library at the Palais Bourbon, as well as murals for the Church of Saint-Sulpice and scenes for the library of the Chamber of Peers at the Luxembourg Palace. However, the demanding nature of this decorative work took its toll, prompting Delacroix to retreat to his country house at Champrosay beginning in 1844 to rest and recover.

In his later years, Delacroix grappled with periods of ill health, leading to decreased productivity and a hiatus from work in the early 1840s. Although Delacroix never married, he engaged in affairs with numerous women, including his models and possibly even Le Guillou, his housekeeper, who remained with him until his passing.

In the later years of his career, Delacroix found inspiration in nature and produced numerous works featuring gardens and flowers. He also continued to focus on large-scale tableaux and decorations, and in 1850, he was commissioned to paint a mythological scene on the main ceiling of the Apollo Gallery in the Louvre. Widely acclaimed, this work exceeded expectations, leading to Delacroix receiving 6,000 francs more than his original contract stipulated. 

Considerable recognition came late in Delacroix's career with his solo exhibition at the 1855 Universal Exposition. Following this triumph, Delacroix was finally elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1857, after seven previous unsuccessful attempts.

Delacroix continued to paint until his final days, but in his later years, perhaps influenced by personal contemplation, he increasingly turned to Christian-themed works. Despite his prolific artistic output, he pondered his legacy near the end of his life, once musing, "What will they think of me when I am dead?"

Eugène Delacroix's Art Style

Eugène Delacroix's Salon paintings often depicted intense scenes drawn from contemporary history and literature, some shocking for their unflinching portrayal of violence and human suffering, such as "Death of Sardanapalus" and "Massacre at Chios." These works marked a departure in modern art, prioritizing emotional expression over order and rationality.

Delacroix's animal paintings reflect Romanticism's fascination with the wild and untamed. Inspired by studies conducted in Paris's Jardin des Plantes, where he sketched zoo lions, as well as drawings of domestic cats.

Delacroix's understated still lifes showcase his mastery of color harmonies and composition, revealing his ambition to excel in all artistic genres as a true virtuoso. These works would later inspire Impressionist artists who reinterpreted the traditional still life with freshness and modernity.

The visual impact of Delacroix's art owes much to his exploration of color. He adeptly employed principles such as the division of tones and the harmony of contrasts, which proved pivotal for later modernists like Van Gogh and Seurat.