Shop art print and framed art Homage to Delacroix by Henri Fantin-Latour

Homage to Delacroix : A pictorial manifesto

The year 1863 marked the passing of Eugène Delacroix, an emblematic figure of French Romanticism. His death leaves a huge void in the art world, and particularly among young painters who saw in him a master and a precursor. Henri Fantin-Latour, then aged 27, was one of them.

Admiring Delacroix's talent and audacity, and astonished at how few people were present at the painter's funeral, he decided to pay tribute to him by painting a 160 x 250 cm picture, gathering around his portrait the artists and writers who admired him. The idea was shared by Baudelaire, a fervent supporter of Delacroix, who helped Fantin-Latour choose the personalities to feature in the composition. The painting, completed in 1864, was exhibited at the Salon of the same year. Homage to Delacroix is today preserved at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, bearing witness to an artistic context in the throes of change, where the younger generation of artists sought to define themselves in relation to the Romantic legacy and assert their own identity.

Homage to Delacroix, a sober and solemn composition

The work is presented as a group portrait, organized in a classical, balanced manner. Ten men stand, gathered around a bust portrait of Eugène Delacroix, placed at the center of the composition and slightly elevated. The deliberately neutral, dark background enhances the realistic, meticulously rendered figures. Fantin-Latour adopted a restricted chromatic palette, dominated by blacks, grays and browns, which lend an austere, melancholy atmosphere to the whole. The diffused, subdued lighting accentuates the impression of contemplation and solemnity that emanates from the scene. The absence of superfluous scenery and the sobriety of the staging focus attention on the characters and their connection to the departed master.

Homage to Delacroix : The disciples around the master

In the center of the painting, Delacroix's portrait, painted from a photograph, immediately catches the eye. The painter is depicted in a three-quarter view, his face turned slightly to the right, and wearing a solemn expression. Around him, ten men, artists and writers, pay silent homage. Among them are Henri Fantin-Latour himself, Charles Baudelaire, poet and great admirer of Delacroix, and Édouard Manet, realist painter and rising figure of the avant-garde.

The other figures, all of whom are in the same pose, are the most famous of Delacroix's contemporaries.

The other figures, less well known to the general public, are Whistler, Legros, Champfleury, Bracquemond, Duranty, Cordier and Balleroy. Each figure is individualized and characterized by attitude, expression and gaze.

Symbolism and posterity of the Homage to Delacroix

Homage to Delacroix is more than just a group portrait. It is a veritable artistic manifesto, affirming Delacroix's influence on the younger generation and their determination to continue his work. The central portrait of Delacroix, placed high up and surrounded by his disciples, symbolizes the tutelary figure of the master and his role as spiritual guide. The flowers placed at the foot of the portrait, the gazes turned towards him, the grave, collected expressions, all combine to create an atmosphere of mourning and veneration. The painting also testifies to the importance of the artistic community and the solidarity between artists. By gathering around Delacroix personalities as diverse as Baudelaire, Manet and Whistler, Fantin-Latour affirms the need for dialogue and collaboration between different trends in art.

Impact and recognition of the Homage to Delacroix

Homage to Delacroix marks a turning point in Fantin-Latour's career. The painting, first in a series of four group paintings of artistic personalities, is hailed by critics and earns him a certain notoriety. It confirms his talent as a portraitist and his ability to capture the psychology of his models. The work also established his reputation as a committed artist, intent on paying tribute to the great masters and defending the values of art. While Fantin-Latour is best known today for his still lifes and genre scenes, Homage to Delacroix remains a major work in his repertoire, testifying to his attachment to the Romantic tradition and his desire to participate in the revival of art.

This artwork is a painting from the classical period. It belongs to the realism style.

« Homage to Delacroix » is kept at Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France.

Find the full description of Homage to Delacroix by Henri Fantin-Latour on Wikipedia.