Eugene Delacroix

The first time I saw a painting by French artist, Eugene Delacroix, was during a visit to the Louvre with my dear uncle Alvin. I stood transfixed in front of the enormous format while Alvin rattled off personal and professional points of interest about the painter. Alvin was a walking encyclopedia about anything to do with European history, art, and classical music. He single-handedly taught me much about European culture; it is thanks to him that I live in France today. 

Eugene Delacroix 1798-1863, Self Portrait. 

From the get go, Delacroix was the leader in the French Romantic movement in art. His later work, with its exotic nature, would inspire the Symbolist movement. 

His first major piece in 1822, The Barque of Dante. 

I love the dramatic physical gestures of the people, you can feel the emotion shooting out of the canvas.

He took a trip to England in 1825. There he painted his only full-length portrait. 

Portrait of Louis-Auguste Schwiter. 

Quelle dandy! 

Delacroix painted Death of Sardanapalus in 1827-8. A painting of the death of the Assyrian king Sardanapalus. The literary source of this story is from a play by his favorite poet, Byron. 

This is the painting that so transfixed me so many years ago. It is in the Louvre, from floor to ceiling and takes up an entire wall.

Then there is the very famous Liberty Leading the People, painted in 1830. 

Delacroix lived in a fairly turbulent time in France: from King Charles X, to King Louis Philippe, to a Revolution in 1848, which led to the election of President Louis Napoleon III. 

Liberty Leading the People was purchased by the French government, but was hidden from the public eye until the election of Napoleon III. It is also in the Louvre. 

Delacroix traveled to Spain and North Africa just after the French conquered Algeria. During his travels, he produced over a 100 paintings and sketches. This trip influenced his work for the duration of his life.

My personal favorite is Lion Hunt. His ability to paint animals is truly intense and amazing. 

 

Another painting I quite admire is Medea About to Kill Her Children. So dramatic!

I am not an art critic. I am not an expert. It is not my goal to inform my readers of every absolute detail. I am simply writing this blog to show you all of the lovely things I encounter in my life in France. I may get things wrong. I trust I will get most things right! I am here to have fun and share.

If you would like to read more about Eugene Delacroix and see a good-sized collection of his works, visit this website. 

Last, but not least, Frederic Chopin.

Chopin, an unfinished portrait.  

Delacroix passionately loved Shakespeare and Byron. He was a dandy, a brilliant conversationalist and had a contradictory personality where he sometimes loved to be surrounded by the Paris social life and others times where he needed to hide out in the country and get away from it all. 

He was friends with the likes of George Sand, Chopin, Liszt, among others. 

Visit the Louvre, go to Versailles, scour the net, and watch the film Impromptu. 

Gros bisous de Delacroix et a demain!

Love, Charley