A Wall Decorated in Spanish Tiles

A Wall Decorated in Spanish Tiles by Eugène Delacroix, executed in 1832, is a detailed watercolor over graphite drawing documenting the artist's pivotal journey to North Africa and Spain. This work belongs to a significant body of sketches and studies produced during and immediately following his 1832 voyage to Morocco, undertaken as part of a diplomatic mission. The time spent observing Moorish architecture and decoration in Spain profoundly influenced Delacroix’s approach to color and exotic subject matter, marking a key period in the development of 19th-century Orientalism.

The piece, classified specifically as a drawing, showcases Delacroix’s skilled handling of watercolor applied thinly over a precise graphite underdrawing. The composition focuses intently on an array of geometric and floral azulejo tiles, characteristic of traditional Spanish and Andalusian decorative arts. Delacroix carefully rendered the intricate patterns and vibrant blue and yellow hues, capturing the texture and spatial arrangement of the wall surface. This meticulous observational approach highlights the artist’s dedication to precise documentation, a method he employed frequently to capture architectural details and ethnographic material for later use in major oil paintings.

This important study remains a vital record of Delacroix’s early engagement with Iberian and North African culture. The work is now preserved in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Given the prominence of the artist and the drawing’s age, high-resolution images are often available through the institution's public domain collections. Consequently, collectors and researchers can readily access digital versions, and high-quality prints of this seminal work contribute significantly to the continuing study of Delacroix's travel journals and preparatory materials.