Figures Studies for the Salon du Roi, Palais Bourbon

Figures Studies for the Salon du Roi, Palais Bourbon is a preparatory drawing executed by Eugène Delacroix between 1833 and 1835. This essential study, rendered in pen and iron gall ink, captures the vigor and immediacy characteristic of his working method. The drawing relates directly to the major commission Delacroix received in the early 1830s to decorate the Salon du Roi in the Palais Bourbon, which currently serves as the seat of the French National Assembly.

Delacroix utilized the permanence and sharp line provided by the iron gall ink, rapidly sketching various figure poses that would populate the grand ceiling decorations. These figures represent allegorical and historical subjects crucial to the final scheme, which celebrated themes of national importance such as Justice, War, Agriculture, and Industry. The vigorous lines and hatching demonstrate the artist's focus on muscularity and dramatic motion, investigating how light would define the forms in the finished architectural setting. This piece offers deep insight into the rigorous planning required for monumental projects, showcasing Delacroix’s ability to translate complex conceptual compositions into detailed anatomical studies.

Classified as a drawing, the work is a vital document in understanding Delacroix's transition from Romantic easel painter to monumental decorator. This particular preparatory study is preserved in the extensive drawings collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its historical importance and the renown of the artist, high-quality prints and archival records of these figures studies are often made available to the public domain for scholarly examination, ensuring the continued study of Delacroix’s influential design process.