Eugène Delacroix, the Pioneering French Romantic Painter

From My Modern Met:

Delacroix and his contemporaries influenced the landscape of painting, which for decades had been dominated by the austere and intellectual aesthetics of Neoclassical art. Delacroix utilized the emotional qualities of color and expressive brushstrokes to create a range of spectacular pieces inspired by the political events of Europe, mythology, and his visits to North Africa. The evocated qualities of his paintings, which Here, we will learn more about Delacroix's art and the characteristics of his style. Here, we will learn more about Delacroix's art and the characteristics of his style.

A master of color, movement, and drama, Eugène Delacroix (1798 – 1863) was a leader of the Romanticism art movement and an influential figure in the work of the Impressionists. His oeuvre spanned contemporary events, mythological scenes, Orientalism, and portraiture.

Born outside of Paris, Delacroix began his creative career by studying under Neoclassical artist Pierre-Narcisse Guérin and learning to paint in a realistic style that emphasized modeling and design. As he continued working, Delacroix's style became looser and less refined, but it was not until he saw Théodore Géricault's painting, Raft of Medusa, that he fully embraced the Romantic style. (Read more.)