Hercules Between Virtue and Vice

Hercules Between Virtue and Vice by Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863, addresses the classical theme of the Choice of Hercules, a narrative popularized by Xenophon where the hero must select between the difficult path of virtue and the easy road of vice or pleasure. Created relatively late in the artist’s career, between 1849 and 1852, this drawing captures the intense moral and physical drama central to the Romantic movement in France, a tradition Delacroix championed throughout his life.

The work is meticulously executed in graphite on tan tracing paper, which has been carefully laid down onto ivory wove paper to preserve the delicate rendering. This specific combination of materials suggests that the piece served as a preparatory study, allowing Delacroix to refine the composition and figure placement before potentially committing the idea to a larger scale. Delacroix utilized the graphite to focus exclusively on the dynamic tension and musculature required to convey the weight of Hercules’s decision. The dramatic poses of the allegorical figures flanking the hero emphasize the dichotomy of the choice, showcasing the artist’s mastery of expressive draftsmanship.

Delacroix remains one of the most significant figures in 19th-century European art, profoundly influencing later generations of French artists. This powerful study of morality and classical literature resides within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a key example of the French master’s late work, images of Hercules Between Virtue and Vice are often found in the public domain, making high-quality prints and scholarly analysis of this pivotal composition widely accessible.