Artwork
Sheet with Six Antique Medals
Sheet with Six Antique Medals is a print by the Romanticist artist Eugène Delacroix. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1825, the work titled *Sheet with Six Antique Medals* is a paper drawing by Eugène Delacroix, a central figure of French Romanticism. The piece presents a study of six classical medals, arranged in a loose, overlapping composition against a muted beige ground. It is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
Each medal displays a distinct ancient motif: a profile portrait of a bearded man, a profile of a clean‑shaven figure, a standing figure with raised arms, a winged creature, a dog‑like animal and a bull‑like animal. The assortment reflects Delacroix’s interest in antiquarian objects and the symbolic language of classical iconography.
Technique & Style
Rendered in fine pen and wash, the drawing emphasizes line work and subtle tonal shading rather than the vivid color typical of Delacroix’s paintings. The arrangement resembles a scholar’s sketchbook, with overlapping edges and careful attention to the relief and inscription details of each medal.
History & Provenance
The sheet was produced early in Delacroix’s career, before his major historical canvases. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century, though the precise path of ownership before that remains undocumented.
Context
Delacroix’s fascination with the dynamism of Baroque masters such as Rubens and the richness of Venetian Renaissance art informed his approach to drawing, even in a study of ancient medals. The work illustrates the Romantic era’s broader revival of interest in classical artifacts as sources of artistic inspiration.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix ( DEL-ə-krwah, -KRWAH; French: ; 26 April 1798 – 13 August 1863) was a French Romantic artist who was regarded as the leader of the French Romantic school.
