Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863) was one of the towering figures to emerge in France in the wake of Napoleon. No other artist of the nineteenth century balanced a reverence for the past with such a strong ambition and spirit of innovation. Distinguishing himself from many other talented young artists in Paris, he gained renown in the 1820s for his novel subject matter, theatrical sense of composition, vibrant palette, and vigorous painterly technique. His vast production—including some eight hundred paintings, prints in a variety of media, and thousands of drawings and pages of writing—won the admiration of countless writers and artists, including Charles Baudelaire, Paul Cézanne, and Pablo Picasso. This comprehensive monograph closely examines the full breadth of Delacroix’s career, including his engagement with the work of his predecessors, his fascination with the natural world, his interest in Lord Byron and the Greek War of Independence, and the profound influence of his voyage to North Africa in 1832. It brings to life his relationships with his contemporaries, ranging from the painters Pierre Narcisse Guérin and Antoine Jean Gros to Gustave Courbet, as well as his exploration of literary, historical, and biblical themes, his writing in personal journals, and his triumphant exhibition at the Exposition Universelle of 1855. Richly illustrated and encompassing the entire range and diversity of his art, from grand paintings to intimate drawings, Delacroix illuminates how this intrepid figure changed the course of European painting by heeding “a call for the liberty of art.”

Assistant Curator Ashley Dunn explores the Museum's deep collection of prints by Eugène Delacroix, a number of which are currently on view in the exhibitions Devotion to Drawing and Delacroix.

In his preface to the Delacroix catalogue, Associate Curator Asher Miller explores the ways in which this exhibition and the accompanying catalogue will give museumgoers the opportunity to discover Delacroix with fresh eyes.

Associate Curator Cora Michael showcases a selection of drawings by Eugène Delacroix recently added to the Museum's collection thanks to a generous gift by longtime trustee Karen B. Cohen.

Listen to an exclusive conversation with Associate Curator Asher Miller as he discusses Eugène Delacroix's life and work, and the artist's lifelong appetite for reinvention.

Managing Editor Michael Cirigliano II takes a walk through an exhibition of works on paper by Eugène Delacroix with Assistant Curator Ashley Dunn to discuss Delacroix's artistic practice, as well as his love of nature and literature.

Production Editor Dana Miller introduces two new MetCollects episodes that coincide with three exhibitions at The Met Fifth Avenue.

Known as the master of French Romanticism for his energetic paintings, Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863) was also a consummate draftsman. Yet his drawings remained largely unknown to the public during his lifetime. Beginning with a posthumous studio sale in 1864, however, these drawings have been sought after and widely appreciated for the incomparable insight they afford into the artist’s process. This handsome book, one of the few to explore the topic in depth, provides new insight into Delacroix’s drawing practice, paying particular attention to his methods and the ways in which he pushed the boundaries of the medium. It showcases a selection of more than one hundred drawings, many of which have been rarely seen, from Karen B. Cohen’s world-renowned collection. The works highlighted here range from finished watercolors to sketches, from copies after old masters and popular prints to drawings preparatory to many of Delacroix’s most important painting and print projects. Illustrated with a wealth of comparative images, the book examines the essential role of drawing in the artist’s formation and aesthetic practice, while two shorter texts trace the history of the collecting of Delacroix’s work at the Metropolitan Museum and present important new research on his materials and techniques.