10 Most Famous Paintings by Eugène Delacroix You Have to See
Looking for the most famous paintings by Eugène Delacroix? From Liberty Leading the People to Dante and Virgil in Hell, this post will show you all of Delacroix’s famous paintings.
Eugene Delacroix was a French painter who is most known for being the pioneer and leader of the Romantic movement of the 19th century.
His paintings depicted dramatic scenes from history with bold brushstrokes and evocative use of color.
Although categorized as a romantic painter, his work set the stage for the Impressionist movement as well as the Symbolist.
Eugène Delacroix’s portrait – Photo credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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For a career that spanned a number of decades, he was able to paint over 850 paintings, over 6000 drawings, and various watercolors which all totaled up to 9140 works.
Unfortunately, not all of them became household names! So, if you’re a fan of his work, in this article, I will take you through 10 of the most famous paintings by Eugene Delacroix which are widely considered his best and most impactful work which has inspired and keeps inspiring generations of artists to come.
10 Most Famous Paintings by EugèneDelacroix
Though most of his work is spread around the world, the majority of the paintings in this article are in the Louvre museum but you can also see a great deal of his work in Musée Delacroix, a museum in Paris housed in his old studio showcasing letters, sketches, and other paintings.
Continue reading to discover 10 of the most famous Delacroix paintings.
1. Liberty Leading the People (1830)
Of all Eugene Delacroix’s paintings, Liberty Leading the People is indisputably his most famous work and no doubt one of the most famous French paintings.
Painted in 1830, it depicts Parisians uprising against King Charles X during the July Revolution of 1830 with Liberty personified as a woman holding the French flag with one hand and a musket in the other as she leads a group of people.
This Romantic painting depicts the will of the people rather than trying to portray actual events, and also went against the grain of the Neoclassical movement of the time.
The French government purchased the painting after its unveiling, and although it moved around for some years and even returned to Delacroix at one point, it was finally bought again by the French government (by the third republic) in 1874 for the Louvre museum and it quickly became an icon for the country.
It is currently on display at the Louvre museum in Paris and it’s actually one of the most famous paintings of the Louvre.
2. The Massacre at Chios (1824)
Eugène Delacroix, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
This striking painting depicts the attack that Ottoman forces waged on the Greek island of Chios in 1822.
Most paintings by Delacroix are so impactful due to the accurate portrayal of human emotions and The Massacre at Chios is no different.
It shows the true suffering and agony of the people of Chios during this attack with some dead and others suffering and looking hopeless.
At its unveiling in the Paris Salon in 1824, it caused quite a stir due to the depiction of civilian suffering devoid of hope or a hero to save the day. Critics viewed the painting as muddled, and could not make sense of its composition.
However, the Greeks loved it, and a copy of the painting hung in a local museum in Chios.
For a while, it was withdrawn to improve Greek-Turkish relations but many protested against this and it was reinstated.
This original painting is currently on display in the Louvre museum in Paris and it is considered to be one of Delacroix’s famous paintings.
3. Death of Sardanapalus (1827)
Eugène Delacroix, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Another famous artwork of Eugene Delacroix, Death of Sardanapalus is based on the tale of the Assyrian king, Sardanapalus who lived his life in excess and luxury at the cost of his people and country.
To avoid being captured by the enemy, Sardanapalus constructed a funeral pyre for himself stacked with all his riches along with all his eunuchs and concubines. He then proceeded to light himself and everyone else on fire.
It was controversial and polarizing at the time of the exhibition in 1828, due to the main character of the painting being so heinous as well its apparent Romantic inclination.
This went against the grain of Neoclassicism which sought to depict moral subject matter and many people found the painting to be amoral.
Like the above Eugene Delacroix paintings, this one is also in the Louvre museum in Paris but there is a smaller version, also painted by Delacroix that is in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Related post: Famous Paintings By Edgar Degas
4. Self-portrait in a Green Vest (1837)
Photo credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Self-portraits always evoke intense interest due to the depiction of how the artist views himself on canvas.
In Self-portrait in a Green Vest, Delacroix reveals himself as a strikingly handsome man with a confident gaze that he directs at the viewer.
His bold brush strokes bring the painting to life and his lighting is once again bright and vivid. This self-portrait is on display at the Louvre museum in Paris.
5. Women of Algiers in their Apartment (1834)
Eugène Delacroix, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
In 1832, Delacroix accompanied his diplomat friend on a trip through North Africa and was immediately taken with the Arab culture, lifestyle, and dress code of the region and this fascination made him want to paint about it.
However, he encountered problems because not many Muslim women were willing to pose for him but this did not stop him.
He made sketches from afar but luck met him during his short stay in Algeria when a merchant gave him access to his private harem and he got a chance to sketch the women in the apartment.
Most paintings of Delacroix all played with vibrant hues and bright light, and this painting in particular captured the colors, fabrics, and atmosphere vividly.
Even though it received a lukewarm reception at its unveiling, Women of Algiers inspired the likes of Picasso, Matisse, and Auguste Renoir.
This painting can be viewed at the Louvre museum in Paris but there is another variation of the same painting, still painted by him at Musee Fabre in Montpellier, France.
6. Barque of Dante (1822)
Eugène Delacroix, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Barque of Dante signaled the entrance of Eugene Delacroix’s artwork into the spotlight of the Parisian art world.
A definite shift from Neoclassicism to Romanticism, this painting vaguely depicts events in canto eight of Dante’s inferno (poem) during which the titular poet and Virgil cross the River Styx on their way through hell.
His chaotic composition, the sense of motion expressed, and the theme of human frailty cemented him as an artist that is unafraid of controversy.
This painting is also known as Dante and Virgil in Hell but it should not be confused with the painting of a similar title by William-Adolphe Bouguereau that is housed in the Orsay museum.
The Barque of Dante is on display at the Louvre museum and it’s also one of the most famous paintings in Paris.
Related Post: Most Famous Paintings By Claude Monet
7. Orphan Girl at the Cemetery (1823-24)
Eugène Delacroix, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Although Orphan Girl at the Cemetery (also known as Young Orphan Girl in the Cemetery) is thought to have been just spadework for The Massacre at Chios (1824), it became a masterpiece on its own.
The painting depicts a scene of loss and hopelessness as a young girl tearfully stares up at the sky evoking a sense of melancholy.
Although the colors are bright as seen in other paintings by Eugene Delacroix, they are all in somber tones of beige, gray, and brown to truly bring out the hopeless feeling the girl is going through.
A master of Romanticism, Delacroix’s use of color alone can bring forth a feeling of sorrow and this painting showcased it well.
This artwork is currently at the Louvre museum for public viewing.
8. Greece on the Ruins of Missolonghi (1826)
Eugène Delacroix, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Most of Eugene Delacroix’s artwork drew inspiration from the historical events of his time and Greece on the Ruins of Missolonghi is another depiction of the Turkish-Greek war.
This painting’s subject matter revolves around a tragedy that happened in 1825 when the Greeks from the long-sieged city of Missolonghi tried to escape from the Ottomans.
This escape attempt did not end well and most Greeks were killed. Similar to Liberty Leading the People, here Greece is personified as a woman, arms stretched out as a sign of deep sorrow at the scene around her, with a man in the background depicted as the Ottoman enemy.
Greece on the Ruins of Missolonghi is currently housed in Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, France.
Related Post: Most Famous Paintings by Auguste Renoir
9. Jewish Wedding in Morocco (1839)
Eugène Delacroix, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
It is clear even in later years what an impact North Africa had on several paintings of Eugene Delacroix.
At one point during his travels, he had a Jewish merchant as a guide and this afforded him opportunities to take a peek into the private lives of the people he was so interested in.
Jewish Wedding in Morocco, in particular, depicts a Jewish wedding Delacroix had attended during his diplomatic travels in North Africa and was painted from memory and based on his notes from the trip.
This Romantic commemoration of the trip focuses heavily on traditional dancing and music as well as the attire that Delacroix found so interesting.
As with other Eugene Delacroix famous paintings, this work is also in the Louvre museum.
10. Christ on the Cross (1846)
Eugène Delacroix, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
We end this list of famous paintings by Eugene Delacroix with Christ on the Cross!
This expressive painting depicts Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and Mary Magdalene’s anguish.
His evocative use of color can be seen in the brownish tint of Christ’s body, and the blues and grays used to conjure up a stormy sky.
His romantic expression of Biblical narrative was well-received at first showing in 1847 and was compared to the crucifixion scenes of Peter Paul Rubens, whom Delacroix greatly admired.
This painting is currently on display in the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.
Final Thoughts on Eugène Delacroix’s Famous Paintings
After viewing these masterful pieces, it is impossible to argue the skill, emotional intelligence, and insight that Delacroix possessed.
These famous paintings by Eugene Delacroix changed the art world forever, and although some stirred up controversy and discontent, they brought forth a necessary change to the reigning Neoclassical movement of the time.
They expressed emotion like never before and will continue to inspire and influence artists and art lovers around the world.
Do you have a favorite painting by Eugene Delacroix? Mine is obviously Liberty Leading the People but I would like to hear yours in the comments section!
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