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Eugéne-Victor-Ferdinand Delacroix

Born – Charenton-St-Maurice, France 1798

Died – Paris, France 1863

By the early 1850s Eugéne Delacroix had affirmed the position he had held as the leader of the Romantic Movement – albeit a rebellious one. He visited Morocco in 1832 and considered himself a dandy. He was denied membership of the Academic des Beaux-Arts until 1857 despite being regarded as a key artist by all the most conservative critics and had received numerous state commissions throughout his career. In addition to directing large decorative mural projects he produced many memorable, smaller works. In his later years he wrote the bulk of his celebrated Journal and continued to publish art criticism. He was probably the last great artist to consider himself primarily as a historic painter, preferring to tackle exotic or heroic major themes. Liberty Leading the People is one such triumphant composition. It appears like an allegory but was conceived to act like a poster illustrating the contemporary life of the 1830 Revolution. The avant-garde of his time respected him as an older, independent artist and Baudelaire was included among his loyal admirers. He is often regarded as the greatest colourist of French painters.

Masterpieces:

• Algerian Woman
• Massacre at Chios

Text: The A-Z of Art, Nicola Hodge and Libby Anson.

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