Savour Artistic Genius At The National Museum Eugene Delacroix

By Author: Walter Smetana
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While immersing oneself within Parisian culture, it is an obligation to examine some of the creators who have put the city on the artistic map. One of these greats is Eugene Delacroix, a fascinating man who was once described by Baudelaire as “ a volcanic crater artistically concealed beneath bouquets of flowers” He epitomised the French aesthetic of romanticism and was a leader in this artistic movement. Tourists in Paris can find out more about his work, as well as the individual himself, by heading to the Musee National Eugene Delacroix.

Eugene Delacroix was born just before the turn of the 19th century. He was a painter and notable intellectual. He is famous for his expressive brushstrokes and extremely detailed examination of the visual effects of colour, and is believed to have directly influenced the impressionist movement. He was a fine lithographer and neoclassical perfectionist and was as a result, called upon to illustrate various notable works during his lifetime. This included pieces by William Shakespeare, the writer Walter Scott and Goethe.

Delacroix’s works were typified by an emphasis on ...
... colour and movement rather than clarity of outline, focusing on romantic and dramatic content.

In contrast with the majority of his contemporaries, Delacroix did not learn from painting classical models of Greek and Roman art. Instead, his search for the exotic led him to North Africa. Although he was best known as a romantic painter he did not give in to sentimentality and carried on creating very individual pieces using his determined and unique style.

The Musee National Delacroix

Situated in a lovely square on the Left Bank, the Musee National Delacroix is housed in the painter’s last home, which he moved to in 1857 so that he could be near to the church St Sulpice. It houses much of his early work, included small oil paintings, pastels, sketches and lithographs, as well as much of Delacroix’s personal belongings.

Inside, visitors will find memorabilia from his trips abroad and letters between himself and other artists of his time.

While walking through the building, people can admire the painter’s life through his brilliant work and, despite only housing the artist for his final six years, it is great in history. The site, which includes his garden, was turned into a national museum in 1971 and exhibits pictures from most of the artist’s career - These include the artist’s three attempts at frescos, as well as primary studies and drawings for paintings in the Chapelle des Saint Agnes at the Eglise Saint Sulpice.

There are also drawings by some of Delacroix’s beloved friends and colleagues, with Lassalle-Bordes, Huet, Poterlet, Saint-Marcel and Colin all featuring on the apartment’s walls.

Following his preoccupation with North African influences, there are many notes, sketches and souvenirs from his Morocco trip in 1832, with cushions, ceramics, jewellery, kaftans and footwear on display.

As the museum was once his workspace studio, items such as easels, palettes, candlesticks and other aids are also set out as the artist had left them, allowing visitors to properly immerse themselves in the painter’s works and life. The Eugene Delacroix museum is for sure to be included on the art lover's list of Paris tours.