Mathurin Régnier

Mathurin Régnier by Eugène Delacroix is a powerful drawing created between 1841 and 1851. Delacroix executed this preparatory or finished study using watercolor and gouache over traces of graphite on wove paper, showcasing his characteristic ability to integrate fluid color with underlying structure. Classified as a drawing, this work is a crucial piece within the artist's prolific output, demonstrating his deep engagement with literary and historical subjects.

The subject depicts a male figure, likely the French satirical poet Mathurin Régnier (1573-1613), engaged in the act of writing. Delacroix focuses on the intense psychological state of the sitter, capturing the figure's concentration as he records his thoughts. This drawing may relate to Delacroix's broader interest in portraiture and literary figures, echoing the Romantic era’s fascination with biographical subjects.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this important sheet in its collection, where it serves as a valuable resource for studying Delacroix's technical methods in watercolor. Although often associated with large-scale oil paintings, Delacroix was a master of works on paper, utilizing the speed and vibrancy of watercolor to capture immediate impressions. While the original drawing resides in the museum, high-quality prints and digital reproductions of this and similar Mathurin Régnier studies are often made available through public domain initiatives, allowing wider access to Delacroix's drawings. The careful balance of line and wash reinforces the emotional intensity of the scene, cementing its place as an exemplary work of mid-19th-century French drawing.