The artwork “Study of Sky, Setting Sun” is a pastel landscape created by Eugene Delacroix, a prominent figure in the Romanticism art movement. Completed in the year 1849, this piece exemplifies Delacroix’s fascination with the transient effects of light and the sublimity of natureāa quintessential Romantic pursuit.
In the artwork, one observes a delicate blend of warm and cool tones that evoke the ephemeral moment of a setting sun. The sky is rendered with gentle strokes of pastel, which impart a sense of tranquility and fluidity to the scene. A gradient of colors transitions from a soft blue at the top of the composition, through streaks of white and yellow that suggest lingering daylight, down to a warm pinkish hue surrounding the sun. The sun itself appears as a muted orb, partially obscured by atmospheric conditions, casting a subdued light that defines the time of day as dusk.
Below the sky, the horizon is depicted with a dark silhouette of the landscape, likely hills or distant mountains, which anchors the composition and contrasts with the ethereal palette above. The treatment of the landscape is minimal, suggesting Delacroix’s focus was primarily on capturing the fleeting qualities of light rather than detailing the physical features of the land. Overall, the artwork conveys a sense of peace and reflection, inviting viewers to contemplate the natural beauty of the world and the profound emotions it can inspire.