Drunken Silenus, after Rubens

Drunken Silenus, after Rubens by Eugène Delacroix, executed in 1840, is a remarkable graphite drawing that documents the great Romantic painter's intense engagement with the Baroque master, Peter Paul Rubens. This classification of drawing, meticulously rendered on paper, serves as a direct study of Rubens’s dynamic composition depicting the mythical companion of Bacchus, Silenus, typically shown in a state of celebratory inebriation and supported by satyrs and revelers.

The medium of graphite allows Delacroix to focus strictly on line, form, and the complex interplay of human and mythical bodies, capturing the energetic movement inherent in the Bacchic theme without relying on the vibrant color Delacroix favored in his finished paintings. This particular piece likely references a prominent Baroque canvas on the subject, perhaps one frequently seen in the artist’s circle or available for study through prints or public domain reproductions. Delacroix’s careful attention to the dynamic musculature and deep shadowing demonstrates his technical mastery and his commitment to understanding how Rubens achieved such monumental force and vitality in his work.

The practice of copying old masters was critical to the artistic development of the nineteenth century, and Delacroix frequently studied Rubens to internalize his structural and anatomical knowledge. Although a study, the finished quality of this piece underscores its importance as an independent work documenting the profound influence of the Baroque period on French Romanticism. This significant graphite drawing, a testament to the enduring dialogue between artistic generations, is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met).