Eugène Delacroix

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French Romantic artist (1798–1863)

Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix (26 April 1798 – 13 August 1863) was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the Romantic school in French painting. Delacroix's use of expressive brushstrokes and his study of the optical effects of color profoundly shaped the work of the Impressionists, while his passion for the exotic inspired the artists of the Symbolist movement.

Early life and education

Delacroix was born in Charenton-Saint-Maurice, near Paris, France. His father, Charles-François Delacroix, was a notable diplomat and his mother, Victoire Oeben, was the daughter of a famous cabinetmaker. Delacroix was educated at the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris.

Career

Delacroix's first major painting, The Barque of Dante, was accepted by the Salon in 1822. His most famous painting, Liberty Leading the People, commemorates the July Revolution of 1830 and remains a symbol of the French Republic.

Major works

• Liberty Leading the People (1830)
• The Death of Sardanapalus (1827)
• The Massacre at Chios (1824)
• Women of Algiers in their Apartment (1834)

Influence and legacy

Delacroix's work had a profound impact on the development of modern art. His expressive use of color and movement influenced the Impressionists and his dramatic compositions inspired the Symbolists. Delacroix's legacy is also evident in the works of later artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.

Personal life

Delacroix never married and had no children. He was known for his passionate and sometimes tumultuous relationships with his contemporaries, including George Sand and Frédéric Chopin.

Death

Delacroix died on 13 August 1863 in Paris, France, and was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Related pages

• Romanticism
• Impressionism
• Symbolism
• Liberty Leading the People
• The Death of Sardanapalus
• The Massacre at Chios
• Women of Algiers in their Apartment