Letter to Émille-Aubert Lessore, with envelope

"Letter to Émille-Aubert Lessore, with envelope" by Eugène Delacroix is a significant piece of personal correspondence created sometime between 1850 and 1860, offering a unique glimpse into the artist's private world during the final decade of his life. Executed in pen and brown ink, this format, categorized as "Other" rather than a traditional drawing or painting, underscores the functional yet historically valuable nature of the communication between the celebrated French Romantic painter and his correspondent. The simplicity of the medium highlights Delacroix's distinctive, rapid script, making this artifact a crucial resource for understanding his professional and personal relationships during the mid-19th century.

Delacroix, internationally recognized for emotionally charged historical paintings and vivid color application, maintained extensive connections throughout the Parisian art world. Works such as this letter provide context often missing from his large-scale public commissions, revealing the daily workings of an influential master. The inclusion of the original envelope alongside the manuscript enhances its historical integrity, providing definitive provenance and dating information.

This singular work is carefully preserved within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, contributing to the institution’s rich holdings of 19th century European art. As a document concerning a major figure of French Romanticism, the content and style of this correspondence are frequently examined by scholars. Due to the age of the original materials, high-quality digital reproductions of the Letter to Émille-Aubert Lessore, with envelope are often made available through the museum and associated public domain resources, ensuring that detailed studies and physical prints can be accessed by researchers and enthusiasts worldwide.