Eugène Delacroix

Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix (April 26, 1798 - August 13, 1863) was an important painter from the French romantic period.

Chios and Missolonghi

Delacroix did several paintings in support of the Greek War of Independence against the Turks. His painting of the Massacre at Chios (also called Massacre at Scio), showed poor, sick Greek civilians about to be massacred by the Turks. He was painting a contemporary event, for a political purpose, to encourage people to support the Greeks in their war of independence against the Turks. This painting was a popular subject at the time for the French people, and by painting this picture, which was bought by the French government, Delacroix became increasingly well-liked. He was seen as a great painter in the new Romantic style. The painting also shows a view of the suffering of people which was very new in art. There was no glorious event taking place, no picture of swordsmen raising their swords in valour as in David's Oath of the Horatii. This was a picture where Delacroix painted the suffering of the people of the Greek island as the focus for the picture itself, which was relatively new in art. It made many critics unhappy that suffering was seen as a fit subject for an artwork.

Related Topics:
Greek War of Independence - Turks - David

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Delacroix painted a second powerful painting in support of the Greeks in their war of independence in 1827. His painting of Greece on the Ruins of Missolonghi is a powerful picture, showing a woman in Greek costume with her arms raised in a fashion where she shows she is powerless and begs to the viewer to see the horrible events which occurred here, the suicide of the Greeks, who chose to kill themselves and destroy their city, rather than surrender to the Turks. A hand is seen at the bottom, the body obviously having being crushed by the rubble of the city. The whole picture serves as a monument to the people of Missolonghi and to the idea of freedom against tyrannical rule. This event interested Delacroix not only for his sympathies with the Greeks, but also because of the fact that the writer Byron had died there, a writer who he greatly admired.

Related Topics:
Missolonghi - Byron

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