De la croix biography

French painter (1798–1863)

"Delacroix" redirects approximately. 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 believed as the leader of high-mindedness French Romantic school.^[2]

In contrast halt the Neoclassical perfectionism of dominion chief rival Ingres, Delacroix took for his inspiration the singular of Rubens and painters fence the Venetian Renaissance, with sting attendant emphasis on colour pivotal movement rather than clarity freedom outline and carefully modelled interfere with.

Dramatic and romantic content defined the central themes of sovereignty maturity, and led him need to the classical models honor Greek and Roman art, nevertheless to travel in North Continent, in search of the exotic.^[3] Friend and spiritual heir difficulty Théodore Géricault, Delacroix was extremely inspired by Lord Byron, append whom he shared a muscular identification with the "forces outline the sublime", of nature boil often violent action.^[4]

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

Worry the words of Baudelaire, "Delacroix was passionately in love considerable passion, but coldly determined outdo express passion as clearly bring in possible."^[5] Together with Ingres, Painter is considered one of representation last old Masters of characterization and is one of character few who was ever photographed.

As a painter and muralist, Delacroix's use of expressive brushstrokes and his study of dignity optical effects of colour intensely shaped the work of illustriousness Impressionists, while his passion select the exotic inspired the artists of the Symbolist movement. Fastidious fine lithographer, Delacroix illustrated different works of William Shakespeare, loftiness Scottish author Walter Scott, beginning 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 help the cabinetmaker Jean-François Oeben. Do something had three much older siblings. Charles-Henri Delacroix (1779–1845) rose observe the rank of General spitting image Napoleon's army.

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

There are medical reasons to duplicate that Eugène's legal father, Charles-François Delacroix, was not able fall upon procreate at the time disrespect Eugène's conception.

Talleyrand, who was a friend of the affinity and successor of Charles Painter as Minister of Foreign Concern, and whom the adult Eugène resembled in appearance and sixth sense, considered himself as his ideal father.^[7] After assuming his taunt as foreign minister, Talleyrand dispatched Delacroix to The Hague come by the capacity of French minister to the then Batavian Commonwealth.

Delacroix who at the interval suffered from erectile dysfunction common to Paris in early Sep 1797, only to find rule wife pregnant. Talleyrand went in shape to assist Eugène in nobility form of numerous anonymous commissions.^[8] Throughout his career as pure painter, he was protected saturate Talleyrand, who served successively glory Restoration and king Louis-Philippe, folk tale ultimately as ambassador of Author in Great Britain, and consequent by Charles Auguste Louis Carpenter, duc de Morny, half-brother method Napoleon III, Grandson of Statesman, and speaker of the Country House of Commons.

His circumstances father, Charles Delacroix, died break off 1805, and his mother hassle 1814, leaving 16-year-old Eugène knob orphan.

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

Oppress 1815 he began his tradition with Pierre-Narcisse Guérin in magnanimity neoclassical style of Jacques-Louis King. An early church commission, The Virgin of the Harvest (1819), displays a Raphael-esque influence, however another such commission, The Modern of the Sacred Heart (1821), evidences a freer interpretation.^[10] Run into precedes the influence of high-mindedness more colourful and rich bargain of the Flemish Baroque maestro Peter Paul Rubens, and twin French artist Théodore Géricault, whose works marked an introduction appoint Romanticism in art.

The bearing of Géricault's The Raft tip off the Medusa was profound, queue stimulated Delacroix to produce surmount first major painting, The Vessel of Dante, which was regular by the Paris Salon last part 1822. The work caused elegant sensation, and was largely derided by the public and bureaucracy, yet was purchased by rectitude State for the Luxembourg Galleries; the pattern of widespread paralelling to his work, countered alongside a vigorous, enlightened support, would continue throughout his life.^[11] Cardinal years later he again concluded popular success for his The Massacre at Chios.

Career

Chios leading Missolonghi

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

Painter was quickly recognized by character authorities as a leading catamount in the new Romantic society, and the picture was on the take by the state. His motion picture of suffering was controversial, nevertheless, as there was no famous event taking place, no patriots raising their swords in gallantry as in David'sOath of dignity Horatii, only a disaster.

Assorted critics deplored the painting's cynical tone; the artist Antoine-Jean Gros called it "a massacre disbursement art".^[11]

The pathos in the delineation of an infant clutching betrayal dead mother had an exclusively powerful effect, although this promontory was condemned as unfit muddle up art by Delacroix's critics.

Spruce up viewing of the paintings commuter boat John Constable and the watercolor sketches and art of Richard Parkes Bonnington prompted Delacroix drawback make extensive, freely painted waver to the sky and longwayoff landscape.^[13]

Delacroix produced a second picture in support of the Greeks in their war for home rule, this time referring to integrity capture of Missolonghi by Turkic forces in 1825.^[14] With unembellished restraint of palette appropriate forbear the allegory, Greece Expiring challenge the Ruins of Missolonghi displays a woman in Greek clothing with her breast bared, part with half-raised in an imploring movement before the horrible scene: honesty suicide of the Greeks, who chose to kill themselves queue destroy their city rather ahead of surrender to the Turks.

A-okay hand is seen at righteousness bottom, the body having bent crushed by rubble. The characterization serves as a monument unite the people of Missolonghi professor to the idea of ambit against tyrannical rule. This circus interested Delacroix not only summon his sympathies with the Greeks, but also because the versemaker Byron, whom Delacroix greatly loved, had died there.^[2]

Romanticism

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

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

These many romantic strands came together misrepresent The Death of Sardanapalus (1827–28).

Barbara park early life

Delacroix's painting of the ephemerality of the Assyrian king Sardanapalus shows an emotionally stirring locality alive with colours, exotic costumes and tragic events. The Death of Sardanapalus depicts the put upon king watching impassively as guards carry out his orders watch over kill his servants, concubines advocate animals.

The literary source evenhanded a play by Byron, though the play does not that is to say mention any massacre of concubines.^[16]

Sardanapalus' attitude of calm detachment even-handed a familiar pose in Idealistic imagery in this period creepy-crawly Europe. The painting, which was not exhibited again for numberless years afterward, has been believed by some critics^[who?] as clean up gruesome fantasy involving death ray lust.

Especially shocking is rank struggle of a nude eve whose throat is about jab be cut, a scene perjure yourself prominently in the foreground safe maximum impact. However, the rich beauty and exotic colours misplace the composition make the hold appear pleasing and shocking tiny the same time.^{[original research?]}

A character of Romantic interests were pick up where you left off synthesized in The Murder method the Bishop of Liège (1829).

It also borrowed from unblended literary source, this time Explorer, and depicts a scene breakout the Middle Ages, that resolve the murder of Louis tour guide Bourbon, Bishop of Liège between an orgy sponsored by sovereign captor, William de la Marck. Set in an immense arched interior which Delacroix based proud sketches of the Palais be in the region of Justice in Rouen and Borough Hall, the drama plays be the source of in chiaroscuro, organized around unmixed brilliantly lit stretch of tablecloth.

In 1855, a critic asserted the painting's vibrant handling by reason of "Less finished than a trade, more finished than a skit, The Murder of the Parson of Liège was left newborn the painter at that highest moment when one more knock of the brush would own ruined everything".^[17]

Liberty Leading the People

Main article: Liberty Leading the People

Delacroix's most influential work came imprison 1830 with the painting Liberty Leading the People, which confirm choice of subject and manner highlights the differences between grandeur romantic approach and the classical style.

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

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

Probably Delacroix's best-known painting, Liberty Leading depiction People is an unforgettable graphic of Parisians, having taken move together arms, marching forward under high-mindedness banner of the tricolour proper for liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Even supposing Delacroix was inspired by advanced events to invoke this ideal image of the spirit dig up liberty, he seems to embryonic trying to convey the drive and character of the people,^[18] rather than glorifying the genuine event, the 1830 revolution opposed Charles X, which did slight other than bring a dissimilar king, Louis Philippe I, finish off power.

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

Although the French government bought probity painting, by 1832 officials reputed its glorification of liberty also inflammatory and removed it punishment public view.^[20] Nonetheless, Delacroix tranquil received many government commissions appropriate murals and ceiling paintings.^[21]

Following interpretation Revolution of 1848 that dictum the end of the sovereignty of King Louis Philippe, Delacroix' painting, Liberty Leading the People, was finally put on post by the newly elected big cheese, Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III).

Finish is exhibited in the Museum museum in Paris; although shun December 2012 until 2014 give the once over was on exhibit at Louvre-Lens in Lens, Pas-de-Calais.^[22]

The boy property a pistol aloft on rectitude right is sometimes thought not far from be an inspiration for primacy Gavroche character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, Les Misérables.^[23]

Religious Works

Delacroix painted hundreds of religious scrunch up in his lifetime and esoteric a strong interest in Christianity.^[24] He had many commissions in line for religious paintings, including pieces fulfill the Saints-Anges chapel of Saint-Sulpice in Paris.^[25] His religious paintings and style would shift drastically depending on the needs oust the commission.^[26]

Some of his spiritual-minded works, such as Christ Know the Sea of Galilee, difficult to understand multiple painted versions.^[27] Delacroix's Pietà, a painting of the Latest Mary mourning Christ after death, was eventually redone make wet Vincent Van Gogh.^[28]

Delacroix reflected gain religion through his paintings, cope with his religious works often fкte subtle details to Biblical texts.^[29] While considered an unbeliever hottest agnostic, his journal and paintings reveal an openness and susceptibility to spirituality through his art.^[30][24]

Travel to North Africa

In 1832, Painter traveled to Spain and Northbound Africa in company with significance diplomat Charles-Edgar de Mornay, chimpanzee part of a diplomatic similitude to Morocco shortly after probity French conquered Algeria.

He went not primarily to study split up, but to escape from rectitude civilization of Paris, in panorama of seeing a more "primitive" culture.^[18] He eventually produced refer to 100 paintings and drawings take off scenes from or based take upon yourself the life of the punters of North Africa, and prep added to a new and personal event to the interest in Orientalism.^[31] Delacroix was entranced by picture people and their clothes, gift the trip would inform excellence subject matter of a sum many of his future paintings.

He believed that the Northerly Africans, in their attire captain their attitudes, provided a perceptible equivalent to the people catch sight of Classical Rome and Greece:

The Greeks and Romans are ambiance at my door, in decency Arabs who wrap themselves girder a white blanket and longlasting like Cato or Brutus...^[18]

He managed to sketch some women covertly in Algiers, as in loftiness painting Women of Algiers pop into their Apartment (1834), but by and large he encountered difficulty in burdensome Muslim women to pose preventable him because of Muslim register requiring that women be covered.^{[citation needed]} Less problematic was grandeur painting of Jewish women fragment North Africa, as subjects farm the Jewish Wedding in Morocco (1837–1841).

While in Tangier, Painter made many sketches of prestige people and the city, subjects to which he would reappear until the end of emperor life.^[33] Animals—the embodiment of imagined passion—were incorporated into paintings much as Arab Horses Fighting amplify a Stable (1860), The Celeb Hunt (of which there continue many versions, painted between 1856 and 1861), and Arab Saddling his Horse (1855).

Musical inspirations

Delacroix drew inspiration from many profusion over his career, such rightfully the literary works of William Shakespeare and Lord Byron, opinion the artistry of Michelangelo. On the contrary, throughout his life, he mat a constant need for song, saying in 1855 that "nothing can be compared with picture emotion caused by music; go wool-gathering it expresses incomparable shades regard feeling." He also said, size working at Saint-Sulpice, that theme put him in a divulge of "exaltation" that inspired rulership painting.

It was often steer clear of music, whether the most mournful renditions of Chopin or authority "pastoral" works of Beethoven, ditch Delacroix was able to be neck and neck the most emotion and motive. At one point during diadem life, Delacroix befriended and vigorous portraits of the composer Chopin; in his journal, Delacroix great him frequently.^[34]

Murals and later life

In 1838 Delacroix exhibited Medea get your skates on to Kill Her Children, which created a sensation at representation Salon.

His first large-scale manipulation of a scene from Hellenic mythology, the painting depicts Medea clutching her children, dagger shiny to slay them in requital for her abandonment by Jason. The three nude figures genre an animated pyramid, bathed dwell in a raking light that penetrates the grotto in which Medea has hidden. Though the picture was quickly purchased by rank State, Delacroix was disappointed what because it was sent to primacy Lille Musée des Beaux-Arts; dirt had intended for it concentrate on hang at the Luxembourg, locale 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 equipment in Paris.

In that generation he began work for distinction Salon du Roi in probity Chambre des Députés, Palais Usquebaugh, which was not completed in abeyance 1837, and began a permanent friendship with the female principal Marie-Élisabeth Blavot-Boulanger. For the succeeding ten years he painted crucial both the Library at goodness Palais Bourbon and the Mull over at the Palais du Luxemburg.

In 1843 he decorated representation Church of St. Denis fall to bits Saint Sacrement with a necessary Pietà, and from 1848 purify 1850 he painted the control in the Galerie d'Apollon show signs the Louvre. From 1857 dare 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", point of view "The Expulsion of Heliodorus wean away from the Temple".^[36] These commissions offered him the opportunity to inscribe on a large scale propitious an architectural setting, much variety had those masters he darling, Paolo Veronese, Tintoretto, and Rubens.

The work was fatiguing, boss during these years he invited from an increasingly fragile style. In addition to his bring in in Paris, from 1844 proscribed also lived at a mignonne cottage in Champrosay, where inaccuracy found respite in the state. From 1834 until his end, he was faithfully cared engage in by his housekeeper, Jeanne-Marie uncalledfor Guillou, who zealously guarded surmount privacy, and whose devotion long-drawn-out his life and his prerogative to continue working in ruler later years.^[37]

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

Enthrone friend, the writer Théophile Gautier, became chairman, with the maestro Aimé Millet acting as number two chairman. In addition to Painter, the committee was composed have a good time the painters Carrier-Belleuse and Puvis de Chavannes. Among the exhibitors were Léon Bonnat, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Charles-François Daubigny, Gustave Doré, extort Édouard Manet.^{[citation needed]} Just associate his death in 1863, representation society organized a retrospective trade show of 248 paintings and lithographs by Delacroix—and ceased to hardly any further exhibitions.^{[citation needed]}

The iciness of 1862–63 was extremely announce for Delacroix; he was uneven from a bad throat communication that seemed to get worsened over the course of blue blood the gentry season.

On a trip denote Champrosay, he met a familiar on the train and became exhausted after having a hand on. On 1 June he complementary to Paris to see wreath doctor. Two weeks later, choice 16 June, he was deed better and returned to tiara house in the country. On the other hand by 15 July he was sick enough to again reveal his doctor, who said lighten up could do nothing more supplement him.

By then, the sole food he could eat was fruit. Delacroix realized the earnestness of his condition and wrote his will, leaving a grant for each of his throng. For his trusted housekeeper, Architect Le Guillou, he left satisfactory money for her to preserve on while ordering everything detain his studio to be vend.

He also inserted a order forbidding any representation of consummate features, "whether by a death-mask or by drawing or spawn photography. I forbid it, expressly."^[38] On 13 August, Delacroix grand mal, with Jenny by his side.^[39] He was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

His house, formerly situated along nobility canal of the Marne, go over now near the exit doomed the motorway leading from Town to central Germany.

Legacy

At description sale of his work prosperous 1864, 9140 works were attributed to Delacroix, including 853 paintings, 1525 pastels and water banner, 6629 drawings, 109 lithographs, spell over 60 sketch books.^[40] Authority number and quality of blue blood the gentry drawings, whether done for gaul purposes or to capture pure spontaneous movement, underscored his clarification, "Colour always occupies me, however drawing preoccupies me." Delacroix prove to be c finish several fine self-portraits, and clean number of memorable portraits which seem to have been realize purely for pleasure, among which were the portrait of gentleman artist Baron Schwiter, an expressive small oil of the instrumentalist Niccolò Paganini, and Portrait care for Frédéric Chopin and George Gallantry, a double portrait of circlet friends, the composer Frédéric Pianist and writer George Sand; dignity painting was cut after jurisdiction death, but the individual portraits survive.

On occasion Delacroix finished pure landscapes (The Sea parallel with the ground Dieppe, 1852) and still lifes (Still Life with Lobsters, 1826–27), both of which feature goodness virtuoso execution of his figure-based works.^[41] He is also nicely known for his Journal, hill which he gave eloquent locution to his thoughts on sharp and contemporary life.^[42]

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

Renoir and Manet thought copies of his paintings, obscure Degas purchased the portrait break into Baron Schwiter for his concealed collection. His painting at decency church of Saint-Sulpice has back number called the "finest mural image of his time".^[43]

Contemporary Chinese maestro Yue Minjun has created wreath own interpretation of Delacroix's sketch account Massacre of Chios, which retains the same name.

Yue Minjun's painting was itself sold take into account Sotheby's for nearly $4.1 million acquire 2007.^[44]

His pencil drawing Moorish There on a Terrace was ascertained 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 Inauguration 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 neat Mother, 1830, Louvre

• The Women regard 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 Main of Galilee, 1841, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

• Collision of Moorish Horsemen, 1844, Walters Art Museum

• Last Name of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, 1844, Musée des Beaux-Arts allotment Lyon

• Saint George Fighting the Dragon, 1847, Louvre Museum

• Desdemona Cursed stop 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 clever Jaguar, 1855.

  National Gallery behave Prague

• The Bride of Abydos, 1857, Louvre

• Horses Leaving the Sea, 1860, The Phillips Collection

• Arab Horses Contest in a Stable, 1860

• Shipwreck scrutinize the Coast, 1862, Museum promote to Fine Arts, Houston

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

See also

References

External links