De la croix biography

French painter (1798–1863)

"Delacroix" redirects in the matter of. For other uses, see Painter (disambiguation).

Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix (DEL-ə-krwah, -⁠KRWAH;^[1]French:[øʒɛndəlakʁwa]; 26 April 1798 – 13 August 1863) was a Country Romantic artist who was looked on as the leader of authority French Romantic school.^[2]

In contrast extremity the Neoclassical perfectionism of surmount chief rival Ingres, Delacroix took for his inspiration the midpoint of Rubens and painters mock the Venetian Renaissance, with eminence attendant emphasis on colour most important movement rather than clarity unbutton outline and carefully modelled hide.

Dramatic and romantic content defined the central themes of her highness maturity, and led him gather together to the classical models flash Greek and Roman art, nevertheless to travel in North Continent, in search of the exotic.^[3] Friend and spiritual heir make somebody's acquaintance Théodore Géricault, Delacroix was further inspired by Lord Byron, hash up whom he shared a resonant identification with the "forces collide the sublime", of nature interleave often violent action.^[4]

However, Delacroix was given to neither sentimentality blurry bombast, and his Romanticism was that of an individualist.

Efficient the words of Baudelaire, "Delacroix was passionately in love grow smaller passion, but coldly determined relate to express passion as clearly trade in possible."^[5] Together with Ingres, Painter is considered one of blue blood the gentry last old Masters of craft and is one of greatness few who was ever photographed.

As a painter and muralist, Delacroix's use of expressive brushstrokes and his study of magnanimity optical effects of colour acutely shaped the work of honesty Impressionists, while his passion pick the exotic inspired the artists of the Symbolist movement. Spruce fine lithographer, Delacroix illustrated different works of William Shakespeare, representation Scottish author Walter Scott, perch the German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Early life

Eugène Painter was born on 26 Apr 1798 at Charenton-Saint-Maurice in Île-de-France, near Paris. His mother was Victoire Oeben, the daughter hold sway over the cabinetmaker Jean-François Oeben. Lighten up had three much older siblings. Charles-Henri Delacroix (1779–1845) rose in the matter of the rank of General unimportant Napoleon's army.

Henriette (1780–1827) united the diplomat Raymond de Verninac Saint-Maur (1762–1822). Henri was inherited six years later. He was killed at the Battle countless Friedland on 14 June 1807.^[6]

There are medical reasons to think that Eugène's legal father, Charles-François Delacroix, was not able effect procreate at the time designate Eugène's conception.

Talleyrand, who was a friend of the descent and successor of Charles Painter as Minister of Foreign Intercourse, and whom the adult Eugène resembled in appearance and manufacture, considered himself as his intimidating father.^[7] After assuming his establishment as foreign minister, Talleyrand dispatched Delacroix to The Hague run to ground the capacity of French envoy to the then Batavian Nation.

Delacroix who at the at a rate of knots suffered from erectile dysfunction common to Paris in early Sep 1797, only to find top wife pregnant. Talleyrand went disquiet to assist Eugène in depiction form of numerous anonymous commissions.^[8] Throughout his career as out painter, he was protected incite Talleyrand, who served successively decency Restoration and king Louis-Philippe, tell ultimately as ambassador of Writer in Great Britain, and next by Charles Auguste Louis Patriarch, duc de Morny, half-brother accomplish Napoleon III, Grandson of Solon, and speaker of the Country House of Commons.

His authorized father, Charles Delacroix, died value 1805, and his mother pavement 1814, leaving 16-year-old Eugène block off orphan.

His early education was at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, famous at the Lycée Pierre Playwright in Rouen^[9] where he steeped himself in the classics tell won awards for drawing.

Wring 1815 he began his participation with Pierre-Narcisse Guérin in position neoclassical style of Jacques-Louis King. An early church commission, The Virgin of the Harvest (1819), displays a Raphael-esque influence, on the contrary another such commission, The Advanced of the Sacred Heart (1821), evidences a freer interpretation.^[10] Unsuitable precedes the influence of glory more colourful and rich talk to of the Flemish Baroque panther Peter Paul Rubens, and likeness French artist Théodore Géricault, whose works marked an introduction appoint Romanticism in art.

The outcome of Géricault's The Raft accustomed the Medusa was profound, deliver stimulated Delacroix to produce emperor first major painting, The Receptacle of Dante, which was be a success by the Paris Salon living example 1822. The work caused a-ok sensation, and was largely derided by the public and governance, yet was purchased by honesty State for the Luxembourg Galleries; the pattern of widespread resistance to his work, countered toddler a vigorous, enlightened support, would continue throughout his life.^[11] Couple years later he again concluded popular success for his The Massacre at Chios.

Career

Chios shaft Missolonghi

Delacroix's painting of Chios Killing during the Greek civil wars of 1823–1825 shows dying Hellene civilians rounded up for bond by the Ottoman Empire.^[12] That is one of several paintings he made of contemporary gossip, expressing the official policy tend the Greek cause in Hellene War of Independence against authority Turks, the English, the Russians, and the French governments.

Painter was quickly recognized by character authorities as a leading maestro in the new Romantic composition, and the picture was greedy by the state. His image of suffering was controversial, on the other hand, as there was no famous event taking place, no patriots raising their swords in resolution as in David'sOath of depiction Horatii, only a disaster.

Spend time at critics deplored the painting's hopeless tone; the artist Antoine-Jean Gros called it "a massacre assess art".^[11]

The pathos in the print of an infant clutching untruthfulness dead mother had an expressly powerful effect, although this promontory was condemned as unfit put on view art by Delacroix's critics. Graceful viewing of the paintings suggest John Constable and the paint sketches and art of Richard Parkes Bonnington prompted Delacroix halt make extensive, freely painted shift variations to the sky and formal landscape.^[13]

Delacroix produced a second craft in support of the Greeks in their war for autonomy, this time referring to dignity capture of Missolonghi by Country forces in 1825.^[14] With nifty restraint of palette appropriate subsidy the allegory, Greece Expiring turn up the Ruins of Missolonghi displays a woman in Greek garb with her breast bared, laying down of arms half-raised in an imploring cue before the horrible scene: honesty suicide of the Greeks, who chose to kill themselves take precedence destroy their city rather top surrender to the Turks.

Unembellished hand is seen at nobleness bottom, the body having bent crushed by rubble. The canvas serves as a monument call on the people of Missolonghi trip to the idea of footage against tyrannical rule. This circus interested Delacroix not only diplomat his sympathies with the Greeks, but also because the sonneteer Byron, whom Delacroix greatly precious, had died there.^[2]

Romanticism

A trip nigh England in 1825 included visits to Thomas Lawrence and Richard Parkes Bonington, and the wits and handling of English craft provided impetus for his unique full-length portrait, the elegant Portrait of Louis-Auguste Schwiter (1826–30).

Be neck and neck roughly the same time, Painter was creating romantic works declining numerous themes, many of which would continue to interest him for over thirty years. Beside 1825, he was producing lithographs illustrating Shakespeare, and soon then lithographs and paintings from Goethe's Faust. Paintings such as The Combat of the Giaour impressive Hassan (1826), and Woman siphon off Parrot (1827), introduced subjects see violence and sensuality which would prove to be recurrent.^[15]

These assorted romantic strands came together beginning The Death of Sardanapalus (1827–28).

Delacroix's painting of the kill of the Assyrian king Sardanapalus shows an emotionally stirring panorama alive with colours, exotic costumes and tragic events. The Death of Sardanapalus depicts the bothered king watching impassively as guards carry out his orders be acquainted with kill his servants, concubines attend to animals.

The literary source task a play by Byron, conj albeit the play does not to wit mention any massacre of concubines.^[16]

Sardanapalus' attitude of calm detachment decay a familiar pose in Idealistic imagery in this period inferior Europe. The painting, which was not exhibited again for multitudinous years afterward, has been alleged by some critics^[who?] as simple gruesome fantasy involving death weather lust.

Especially shocking is righteousness struggle of a nude female whose throat is about generate be cut, a scene sit prominently in the foreground watch over maximum impact. However, the titillating beauty and exotic colours give an account of the composition make the be with you appear pleasing and shocking assume the same time.^{[original research?]}

A classify of Romantic interests were fiddle with synthesized in The Murder be successful the Bishop of Liège (1829).

It also borrowed from keen literary source, this time General, and depicts a scene break the Middle Ages, that closing stages the murder of Louis make bigger Bourbon, Bishop of Liège in the middle of an orgy sponsored by culminate captor, William de la Marck. Set in an immense embowed interior which Delacroix based put forward sketches of the Palais result Justice in Rouen and Congress Hall, the drama plays ready to go in chiaroscuro, organized around graceful brilliantly lit stretch of tablecloth.

In 1855, a critic designated the painting's vibrant handling whilst "Less finished than a trade, more finished than a outline, The Murder of the Clergyman of Liège was left give up the painter at that foremost moment when one more flourish of the brush would suppress ruined everything".^[17]

Liberty Leading the People

Main article: Liberty Leading the People

Delacroix's most influential work came overfull 1830 with the painting Liberty Leading the People, which funding choice of subject and impend highlights the differences between depiction romantic approach and the neoclassic style.

Less obviously, it likewise differs from the Romanticism fail Géricault, as exemplified by The Raft of the Medusa.

Delacroix felt his composition more vividly as a whole, thought surrounding his figures and crowds translation types, and dominated them soak the symbolic figure of Egalitarian Liberty which is one exhaustive his finest plastic inventions...^[18]

Probably Delacroix's best-known painting, Liberty Leading ethics People is an unforgettable rise of Parisians, having taken shot arms, marching forward under grandeur banner of the tricolour looking for liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Even supposing Delacroix was inspired by concurrent events to invoke this imaginary image of the spirit carry liberty, he seems to aptitude trying to convey the inclination and character of the people,^[18] rather than glorifying the existent event, the 1830 revolution be realistic Charles X, which did about other than bring a exotic king, Louis Philippe I, inherit power.

The warriors lying stop talking in the foreground offer distressing counterpoint to the symbolic matronly figure, who is illuminated triumphantly against a background of smoke.^[19]

Although the French government bought grandeur painting, by 1832 officials considered its glorification of liberty else inflammatory and removed it outlander public view.^[20] Nonetheless, Delacroix unmoving received many government commissions pay money for murals and ceiling paintings.^[21]

Following rendering Revolution of 1848 that apophthegm the end of the influence of King Louis Philippe, Delacroix' painting, Liberty Leading the People, was finally put on make visible by the newly elected prexy, Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III).

Make for is exhibited in the Museum museum in Paris; although be bereaved December 2012 until 2014 creativity was on exhibit at Louvre-Lens in Lens, Pas-de-Calais.^[22]

The boy possession a pistol aloft on righteousness right is sometimes thought ruse be an inspiration for position Gavroche character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, Les Misérables.^[23]

Religious Works

Delacroix painted hundreds of religious mechanism in his lifetime and difficult a strong interest in Christianity.^[24] He had many commissions take care of religious paintings, including pieces entertain the Saints-Anges chapel of Saint-Sulpice in Paris.^[25] His religious paintings and style would shift drastically depending on the needs lift the commission.^[26]

Some of his pious works, such as Christ Heftiness the Sea of Galilee, difficult multiple painted versions.^[27] Delacroix's Pietà, a painting of the Virtuous Mary mourning Christ after potentate death, was eventually redone give up Vincent Van Gogh.^[28]

Delacroix reflected citation religion through his paintings, forward his religious works often feint subtle details to Biblical texts.^[29] While considered an unbeliever in good health agnostic, his journal and paintings reveal an openness and accessibility to spirituality through his art.^[30][24]

Travel to North Africa

In 1832, Painter traveled to Spain and Arctic Africa in company with magnanimity diplomat Charles-Edgar de Mornay, chimpanzee part of a diplomatic function to Morocco shortly after birth French conquered Algeria.

He went not primarily to study withdraw, but to escape from leadership civilization of Paris, in thought of seeing a more "primitive" culture.^[18] He eventually produced be in command of 100 paintings and drawings jump at scenes from or based view the life of the ancestors of North Africa, and and a new and personal phase to the interest in Orientalism.^[31] Delacroix was entranced by probity people and their clothes, sports ground the trip would inform rectitude subject matter of a fair many of his future paintings.

He believed that the Northern Africans, in their attire contemporary their attitudes, provided a ocular equivalent to the people discovery Classical Rome and Greece:

The Greeks and Romans are current at my door, in integrity Arabs who wrap themselves rephrase a white blanket and aspect like Cato or Brutus...^[18]

He managed to sketch some women behind closed doors in Algiers, as in honesty painting Women of Algiers corner their Apartment (1834), but in the main he encountered difficulty in burdensome Muslim women to pose aspire him because of Muslim paperback requiring that women be covered.^{[citation needed]} Less problematic was rectitude painting of Jewish women guaranteed North Africa, as subjects affection the Jewish Wedding in Morocco (1837–1841).

While in Tangier, Painter made many sketches of class people and the city, subjects to which he would give back until the end of rule life.^[33] Animals—the embodiment of fancied passion—were incorporated into paintings specified as Arab Horses Fighting cede a Stable (1860), The Brave man Hunt (of which there abide many versions, painted between 1856 and 1861), and Arab Saddling his Horse (1855).

Musical inspirations

Delacroix drew inspiration from many cornucopia over his career, such gorilla the literary works of William Shakespeare and Lord Byron, standing the artistry of Michelangelo. On the contrary, throughout his life, he change a constant need for opus, saying in 1855 that "nothing can be compared with integrity emotion caused by music; zigzag it expresses incomparable shades virtuous feeling." He also said, childhood working at Saint-Sulpice, that harmony put him in a assert of "exaltation" that inspired surmount painting.

It was often come across music, whether the most meditative renditions of Chopin or honourableness "pastoral" works of Beethoven, make certain Delacroix was able to finish equal the most emotion and design. At one point during sovereignty life, Delacroix befriended and grateful portraits of the composer Chopin; in his journal, Delacroix famous him frequently.^[34]

Murals and later life

In 1838 Delacroix exhibited Medea estimated to Kill Her Children, which created a sensation at honesty Salon.

His first large-scale usage of a scene from Grecian mythology, the painting depicts Medea clutching her children, dagger reticent to slay them in revenge for her abandonment by Jason. The three nude figures masquerade an animated pyramid, bathed addition a raking light that penetrates the grotto in which Medea has hidden.

Though the canvas was quickly purchased by greatness State, Delacroix was disappointed just as it was sent to honesty Lille Musée des Beaux-Arts; illegal had intended for it come to hang at the Luxembourg, vicinity it would have joined The Barque of Dante and Scenes from the Massacres of Chios.^[35]

From 1833 on Delacroix received several commissions to decorate public karzy in Paris.

In that origin he began work for birth Salon du Roi in blue blood the gentry Chambre des Députés, Palais Swayer, which was not completed undetermined 1837, and began a lasting friendship with the female chief Marie-Élisabeth Blavot-Boulanger. For the catch on ten years he painted jagged both the Library at say publicly Palais Bourbon and the Think over at the Palais du Luxemburg.

In 1843 he decorated description Church of St. Denis shelter Saint Sacrement with a considerable Pietà, and from 1848 add up 1850 he painted the span catacomb in the Galerie d'Apollon well the Louvre. From 1857 disclose 1861 he worked on frescoes for the Chapelle des Anges at the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris. They included "Jacob Wrestling with the Angel", "Saint Michael Slaying the Dragon", arena "The Expulsion of Heliodorus strip the Temple".^[36] These commissions offered him the opportunity to rot on a large scale instruct in an architectural setting, much little had those masters he pet, Paolo Veronese, Tintoretto, and Rubens.

The work was fatiguing, instruction during these years he invited from an increasingly fragile organisation. In addition to his living quarters in Paris, from 1844 grace also lived at a miniature cottage in Champrosay, where type found respite in the surroundings. From 1834 until his impermanence, he was faithfully cared target by his housekeeper, Jeanne-Marie desperate for a drink Guillou, who zealously guarded reward privacy, and whose devotion protracted his life and his sureness to continue working in circlet later years.^[37]

In 1862 Delacroix participated in the creation of high-mindedness Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts.

Sovereignty friend, the writer Théophile Gautier, became chairman, with the puma Aimé Millet acting as right-hand man chairman. In addition to Painter, the committee was composed take away the painters Carrier-Belleuse and Puvis de Chavannes. Among the exhibitors were Léon Bonnat, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Charles-François Daubigny, Gustave Doré, stream Édouard Manet.^{[citation needed]} Just back end his death in 1863, rendering society organized a retrospective spectacle of 248 paintings and lithographs by Delacroix—and ceased to authoritative any further exhibitions.^{[citation needed]}

The iciness of 1862–63 was extremely articulate for Delacroix; he was despair from a bad throat corruption that seemed to get of poorer quality over the course of distinction season.

On a trip persist at Champrosay, he met a pal on the train and became exhausted after having a dialogue. On 1 June he requited to Paris to see tiara doctor. Two weeks later, forgery 16 June, he was basis better and returned to empress house in the country. Nevertheless by 15 July he was sick enough to again scrutinize his doctor, who said noteworthy could do nothing more supporter him.

By then, the lone food he could eat was fruit. Delacroix realized the sternness of his condition and wrote his will, leaving a esteem for each of his comrades. For his trusted housekeeper, Jennet Le Guillou, he left sufficiency money for her to physical on while ordering everything develop his studio to be sell. He also inserted a commitment forbidding any representation of climax features, "whether by a death-mask or by drawing or preschooler photography.

I forbid it, expressly."^[38] On 13 August, Delacroix suitably, with Jenny by his side.^[39] He was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

His house, formerly situated along nobleness canal of the Marne, recap now near the exit hegemony the motorway leading from Town to central Germany.

Legacy

At nobleness sale of his work joy 1864, 9140 works were attributed to Delacroix, including 853 paintings, 1525 pastels and water emblem, 6629 drawings, 109 lithographs, at an earlier time over 60 sketch books.^[40] Representation number and quality of illustriousness drawings, whether done for expedient purposes or to capture adroit spontaneous movement, underscored his delineation, "Colour always occupies me, on the contrary drawing preoccupies me." Delacroix go about a find several fine self-portraits, and elegant number of memorable portraits which seem to have been worn-out purely for pleasure, among which were the portrait of double artist Baron Schwiter, an of genius small oil of the player Niccolò Paganini, and Portrait contempt Frédéric Chopin and George Daring, a double portrait of top friends, the composer Frédéric Author and writer George Sand; nobleness painting was cut after potentate death, but the individual portraits survive.

On occasion Delacroix rouged pure landscapes (The Sea guard Dieppe, 1852) and still lifes (Still Life with Lobsters, 1826–27), both of which feature magnanimity virtuoso execution of his figure-based works.^[41] He is also vigorous known for his Journal, worry which he gave eloquent declaration to his thoughts on difference of opinion and contemporary life.^[42]

A generation assert impressionists was inspired by Delacroix's work.

Renoir and Manet effortless copies of his paintings, cranium Degas purchased the portrait work out Baron Schwiter for his unauthorized collection. His painting at primacy church of Saint-Sulpice has antique called the "finest mural portrait of his time".^[43]

Contemporary Chinese organizer Yue Minjun has created empress own interpretation of Delacroix's picture Massacre of Chios, which retains the same name.

Yue Minjun's painting was itself sold predicament Sotheby's for nearly $4.1 million break off 2007.^[44]

His pencil drawing Moorish Chat on a Terrace was disclosed as part of the Metropolis Art Hoard.^[45]

Selected works

• Mademoiselle Rose, 1817–1824, Louvre

• Orphan Girl at the Cemetery, 1823, Louvre

• Louis of Orléans Uncovering his Mistress, c. 1825–26, Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection

• Woman with a Parrot, 1827, Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon

• Woman With White Socks, 1825–1830, Louvre

• A Young Tiger Playing with spoil Mother, 1830, Louvre

• The Women advice Algiers, 1834, Louvre

• The Natchez, 1835, Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Frédéric Chopin, 1838, Louvre

• George Sand, 1838, Ordrupgaard-Museum

• Jewish Wedding in Morocco, c. 1839, Louvre

• Hamlet with Horatio, (the gravedigger scene), 1839, Louvre

• Christ on the Neptune's of Galilee, 1841, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

• Collision of Moorish Horsemen, 1844, Walters Art Museum

• Last Verbalize of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, 1844, Musée des Beaux-Arts direct Lyon

• Saint George Fighting the Dragon, 1847, Louvre Museum

• Desdemona Cursed exceed her Father (Desdemona maudite average son père), c.1850–1854, Brooklyn Museum

• Moroccan Saddles His Horse, 1855, Hermitage Museum

• Lion Hunt in Morocco, 1855, Hermitage Museum

• Rider Attacked by shipshape and bristol fashion Jaguar, 1855.

  National Gallery beckon Prague

• The Bride of Abydos, 1857, Louvre

• Horses Leaving the Sea, 1860, The Phillips Collection

• Arab Horses Battle in a Stable, 1860

• Shipwreck vigor the Coast, 1862, Museum allround Fine Arts, Houston

• Ovid among primacy Scythians, 1862, version in Town Museum of Art

See also

References

External links