Eugène Delacroix

Born in 1798 near Paris, Eugène Delacroix became one of the central figures of French Romanticism. He first drew wide attention with large, ambitious paintings such as The Barque of Dante, and he went on to create some of the 19th century’s most memorable images, including Liberty Leading the People and The Death of Sardanapalus.

Delacroix was admired for his bold use of color and for the intensity he brought to historical, literary, and contemporary subjects. A trip to Morocco and North Africa in 1832 left a lasting mark on his imagination, inspiring paintings and sketchbooks that expanded his visual world and deepened his interest in light, costume, and movement.

Alongside his paintings, he kept a journal that offers a vivid picture of his ideas about art, beauty, and creative work. He died in 1863, but his example remained powerful for later artists, especially those drawn to expressive color and painterly freedom.