The Secret Behind Eugène Delacroix's Immortal Ornament

Eugène Delacroix decorated many religious and civil buildings throughout his life, and these lasting works are a testament to his genius. His decoration is very extensive, with various murals at Saint-Sulpice, adornments of the National Assembly and Senate, and the now lost decorations for Salon de la Paix in the Paris Hôtel de Ville.

Located in the center of the artist's residence and studio, the Eugène-Delacroix National Museum exhibits an original exhibit providing insight into how he created his decorative works. The exhibit displays many of his preparatory drawings and sketches, revealing many of the methods used to produce his decorative art. Visitors will be able to engage in an immersive experience of the large-scale decorative works created by this Romantic artist.

This new exhibit at the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix will display several of Delacroix's less famous works that have either been acquired or restored within the last few years. Among these will be three frescoes of Delacroix; Leda and the Swan, Anacreon and a Young Woman, and Bacchus with a Tiger. The exhibit will also include two rare hemicyclic wood models, and a corresponding sketch for Hercules Enchains Nereus. These works combined to help illustrate not only the range of Delacroix's productions, but also provide new information on this aspect of his work, that has typically received little research.

Coordinated by: Claire Bessède, Musée National Eugène-Delacroix