Studies of male heads and a standing male figure
Medium
Brush and gray wash, watercolor on laid paper
Dimensions
8-1/2 x 13-7/8 in. (21.6 x 35.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Harry G. Sperling, 1971
Accession Number
1975.131.105
Tags
Art Historical Context
Eugène Delacroix, a towering figure of French Romanticism, masterfully captured the human form in this intimate sheet of studies: *Studies of male heads and a standing male figure*. with brush and gray wash over watercolor on laid paper, the drawing showcases his fascination with expressive male physiognomy—intense gazes, rugged profiles, and dynamic poses that evoke emotion and vitality. Measuring 8-1/2 x 13-7/8 inches, it exemplifies the preparatory sketches Delacroix produced throughout his career, often as groundwork for grand history paintings or lithographs infused with dramatic energy. ...
About the Artist
Eugène Delacroix · 1798–1863
Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863) stands as the defining figure of French Romanticism and a pivotal bridge to modernism. Born in Charenton-Saint-Maurice near Paris, he came from distinguished lineage—his mother descended from the prestigious Oeben-Riesener furniture dynasty, while persistent speculation suggested the statesman Talleyrand may have been his biological father, a theory supported by physic...