Who painted Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville (1642-1701)?

Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville (1642-1701) was painted by Eugène Delacroix in 1835.

Where can I see Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville (1642-1701)?

Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville (1642-1701) is held by Palace of Versailles.

What movement is Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville (1642-1701)?

Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville (1642-1701) is associated with French Romanticism.

Artwork

Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville (1642-1701)

Eugène Delacroix , 1835

Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville (1642-1701) is an oil painting by the French Romanticist artist Eugène Delacroix. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.

About this work

Overview

Eugène Delacroix executed this oil portrait in 1835, presenting the 17th‑century French admiral Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville. The canvas, now housed in the Palace of Versailles, shows the figure standing on a tiled floor, his attire and surroundings evoking his naval career.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is rendered in period dress—a brown and gold jacket, white shirt, and red sash—holding a white cloth in his left hand and a rolled document in his right. The distant ship against a cloudy sky underscores his identity as a naval commander, linking personal presence to maritime authority.

Technique & Style

Delacroix employs a rich palette and fluid brushwork that emphasize colour relationships and movement, reflecting the influence of Rubens and Venetian masters. This approach departs from the restrained linearity of contemporary Neoclassicism, favoring a more dynamic, atmospheric treatment of light and texture.

History & Provenance

Created during the height of French Romanticism, the portrait entered the Versailles collection as part of the museum’s effort to display notable figures of French history. Its acquisition aligns with the 19th‑century practice of commemorating military leaders through state‑owned art.

Artist & collection

Artist

Eugène Delacroix

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.