French painter Eugene Delacroix’s self-portrait, circa 1837, is a part of the Musée du Louvre’s art collection in Paris, France. The painting was created during the French Romantic school of painting era where Delacroix was a leader. His style of painting was expressive and rebellion against established rules.
During his lifetime, he created over 9,000 works that influenced other artists like the Impressionists who were moved by his use of expressive brushstrokes and study of color. Liberty Leading the People is his most famous work that depicted the July Revolution in France as an allegory with various historical paintings created after this one used it as an inspiration.
Despite being a French painter, Delacroix had a deep love for all things English which inspired him to use literature and painters from England as his inspiration for much of his work. A trip to Morocco in 1832 also affected his artwork and subject matter as seen in some paintings’ Orientalist themes – Morocco would become highly regarded Orientalist subject matter for many Frankish artists at this time.
Delacroix passed away in August 1863 following complications brought on by throat cancer despite being successful throughout much of his life both artistically and socially among Europe’s cultural elite.
